THIRD TIME VICTORIOUS

NZ Truth, Issue 1240, 5 September 1929, Page 17

THIRD TIME VICTORIOUS

Harriers

SavidariDbes The '-'■■HatMickpy-ly (From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin ; Rep.) J. W. Savidan, of Auckland, made no race of it on Saturday vvhen for the third year m succession rie raced home nearly two hundred yards ahead of the next; man to^ finish /in the Neyv '•Zealand cross-;cbuntry cHampionship, which /.was staged at Wingatu? (Dunedin) y ■ under weather conditions. THE course of six and a-quarter miles was one to- test 'the .best.r unners/ and Sayidan'stime, 38miris. 12, 2/ssecs., . is really good ! cbrisideririg; lie was not pushed.; ry.Yy'-y-U . y'-'A^; "•'; A;/'/, ./,'& AAA / His/ time, was 33 3/s,secs,, faster, than; , he recorded, at Wanganui when he -car-' ried off the title last- year.,- . .'A A'/.y; '•; Twentyrseveh starters, representing, the four main centres arid including such stars as Savidan, Morris, Silver, Barnes and Francis, set out at an even break. ■■"•' Hill or flat seemed the same' to trie champion who . strode on with machine-like precision; never appearing distressed at any part. At the end of the first tcp, Silver v/as running m second position with Morris, seemingly very distressed, next, closely

followed by Tapp, Johnston, Sheppard and Barclay. The next lap saw several changes, but none could displace Savidan and at the winning post he was about two hundred yards ahead of; Morris (Otago) who now appeared as fresh as a new coat of paint. Wellington supplied the next four men, Barclay being third, Sheppard fourth, Stevens fifth, and- Francis sixth. .Morris covered the -distance m 38mins. 35secs. and /Barclay m 38mins. 48secs. Wellington ;were easily the winners In the teams' race In which the first four men home/counted. Wellington's total was 18 points, with Otago next - best with '28 points. The Auckland and Canterbury representatives were not m it as teams, being credited with 51 arid 69 respectively; The second Aucklander to arrive was Witten m fourteenth place while Canterbury's first man home. was Kane who was fifteenth. Savidan is the only one to win the championship three times and one of two who have won it more than once. J. Beatson, of Otago, won it m 1912 arid again m 1913. The Aucklander has also held the mile and three-mile, flat championships for the past three seasons and is undoubtedly the best. distance performer m action In New Zealand at the present time. Wellington have now won the teams' race six times, Otago eight and Auck-" land' and Canterbury once each. Hockey