EDMOND CUP STEEPLECHASE

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 20

EDMOND CUP STEEPLECHASE

WON BY

J. G. BARNES

TEAMS RACE TO CAVERSHAM. Despite the falling barometer on Friday night, the weather was ideal for the Edmond Cup Steeplechase, which was decided at Wingatui on Saturday afternoon. Half an hour before the race there was brilliant sunshine, but -when the runners set out a slight haze had gathered from the direction of the Maungatuas. Before approximately 1500 spectators —the largest attendance that has ever witnessed the event —J. G. Barnes (Civil Service) ran home a winner by 20 yards from J. H. M’Laren (Pacific), with J. J. Morris (Caversham) 60 yards away third. The first three men were in the lead practically all the way, an*l it was Barnes’s skill at the fences and his magnificent finishing burst that secured him. his place. The teams’ race was won for the sixth time, in succession by Caversham, and the Sealed Handicap went to St, Hilda.

This steeplechase is promoted by the Dunedin Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, and was instituted in 1907, but never before has, such keen interest been taken in it as on the present occasion. The race, which was over a three-mile course, commenced in the straight opposite the old grand stand, and the runners, after crossing the sod wall, followed the steeplechase course over the post and rails and the second iod wall until they reached the back straight. They then went through on to the course proper as far as the end of the straight, after which they took the. post and rails and the: water jump, and. came back on to _ the course at the, entrance to the straight. ■ They covered this course twice-,, and finished at the judge’s box. The track, although soft in places, was in fair order. _ : THE RACE. A field of 177 runners lined up before the starter, and presented a magnificent sight as they moved, off in a body for the first furlong. After that Morris, Barnes, and M’Laren went to the lead, closely followed by Ross (University), and the order over the sod wall was Ross, Barnes, Morris, M’Laren. Nearing the post and rails Morris. Barnes, and M’Laren singled themselves out again, while Ross dropped back, and E. C. Brown (Civil Service) came into a prominent position. Barnes went out in front at the second sod wall, being followed at a short distance by Morris and M’Laren, and at the entrance to the back straight the leader was still a few yards ahead of the next two men. Some distance back J. W. Tapp (Caversham) headed a bunch, almost a quarter of a mile separating the first and the last man.

Barnes, who was running very strongly, had maintained his position at the water jump, ahead of M’Laren, Morris, and W. H. Masters (Leith). As they passed the stand in the first time round Barnes and M’Laren were running level 1 , with Morris a few vards behind, a good distance ahead of L. C. M’Laehlan (Civil Service), Tapp and G. A. M’Knight (Civil Service), who were in front of a bunch.

When they entered the back straight the second time round, M’Laren and Barnes were running level in the lead, with Alorris a couple of yards behind, and E. C. Brown, M’Laehlan, and Tapp some distance back in that order. The order was much the same at the water jump, except that A. Mann (Caversham) had

moved into forth plaee. At the entrance to the home straight Barnes and M’Laren were together, but the former came with a. brilliant dash to win by 20 yards from M’Laren, with Morris some 60 yards away. Fourth place was taken by M’Laehlan, who was 30 yards behind Morris, and beat Brown by five yards. Mann took sixth plaee, followed by Tapp, L. W. Logan (Anglican): G. R. Ward (Leith), and M’Knight in that order. One hundred and fifty-five runners finished the course, thus establishing a New Zealand record. Barnes’s time was 17in 12sec. The individual placing® were as follow :— J. G. Barnes (Civil Service No. 1) .. 1 J. H. M’Laren (Pacific) 2 J. J. Morris (Caversham No. 1) .... 3 L. C. M’Laehlan (Civil Service No. 1) 4 E. C. Brown (Civil Service No. 1) .. 5 A. Mann (Caversham No. I) 6 J. W. Tapp (Caversham No. 1) .. .. 7 L. W. Logan (Anglican) 8 G. R. Ward (Leith) 9 G. A. M’Knight (Civil Service No. 1) .. 10 TEAMS RACE. Caversham No. 1 team retained the cup by a small margin from Civil Service No, 1. The following were the results: — Caversham No-. 1 (J. J. Morris 3, A. Mann 6, J. W. Tapp 7, C. F. Clark 12, E. P. Brown 16. W. H. B. Hobbs 18 1, 62 points .. ... .. - 1 Civil Service No. 1 (J. G. Barnes 1, L. C. M’Laehlan 4, E- C. Brown 5, G. A. M’Knight 10, L. M’Keieh 20, G. Garbutt 26), 66 points .... .. 2 Leith (G. R. Ward 9, S. A. Anderson 11, W. H. Masters 14. F. Miller 39, G. Mason 46, R, N. Watson 64}, 183 points 3 Pacific, 210 points, 4; University, 269, 5; Mornington, 314, 6: St. Kilda, 390, 7; Anglican No. 1, 395, 8; Civil Service No. 2, 409, 9: Northern, 416, 10; Caversham No. 2, 434. 11: Dunedin, 437, 12; Roslyn, 456, 13; St. Patrick’s, 471, 14; Abbotsford, 482. 15; Hanover Baptist, 514, 16; Cargill Road, 785. 17; Anglican No. 2, 837, 18.

SEALED HANDICAP. The following are the results of the Sealed Handicap:— St. Kilda (R. Orange 17, C. Pope 33, A. R. Thompson 66 E. Hill 68, H. A. Brown 105, A. D. Bond 101), 390 points, handicap 380, aggregate 10 .. 1 Civil Service No. 1, 66—30—36, and Northern, 416—380—36, equal .... 2 Leith. 183—125—58 4 Mornington, 314—250 —-64 5 At the conclusion of the race the president of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Mr E. L. Macassey) presented the trophies to the winners to the accompaniment of enthusiastic applause.

PREVIOUS WINNERS. The previous winners of the team’s race and the individual championship respectively are as follow, the winners’ times being also given:— 1907 (at Forbury Park). —Caversham; F. J. Frew (Caversham), I6min 30sec. 1908 (at Forbury Park). —Dunediu; F. J. Frew (Caversham). 1909 (at Tahuna Park). —Caversham; G. A. M’Knight (Caversham), lamin ssec. 1912 (at Tahuna Park).—Caversham; J. D. Beatson (Caversham), IGmin 28see. 1913 (at Tahuna Park). —Caversham; D. J. Jack (Caversham), 16min 6 4-ssee. 1914 (at Wingatui).—Dunedin; M. Micklesen (Dunedin), 17min osec. 1915 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; W. F. Oxley (Y.M.CA..), 17miu 28 2-ssec. 1920 (at Forbury Park). —Pacific; R. Bell (Brooklyn. Wellington), 16min 39sec 1921 (at Wingatui).—Olympic (Wellington) ; T. Wilson (Olympic, Wellington). 18min Usee. 1922 (at Forbury Park). —Caversham; D. C. Lister (Civil Service), 16rain 33sec. 1923 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; W. IL B. Hobbs (Pacific), 17min ilsec. 1924- (at Wingatui).—Anglican; E. L, Brown (Civil Service), 17min. 1925 (at Wingatui).—Anglican; E. L, Brown (Civil Service), 16min 47sec*. 1926 (at Wingatui).-—Caversham; E. L. Brown (Civil Service), 17min 13see. 1927 (at Wingatui).:—Caversham; J. G. Barnes (Civil Service). 17min lOsec. 1928 (at Wingatui).—Caversham: J. G. Barnes (Civil Service). 17min 17sec. 1929 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. J. Alorris (Caversham), 17min 16 3-ssee. 1930 (at Wingatui).—Caversham; J. E. Lovelock (University), I7min. EVENING FUNCTION.

In order to mark the conclusion of the track season the Otago Centre held its annual dance and presentation of prizes at the Embassy Salon on Saturday night, when there was: a large attendance of approximately 120 couples. Opportunity was taken by the Otago Centre and the University Harrier Club to make presentations to Sir J. E. Lovelock. who will shortly be. leaving for England as one of the New Zealand Rhodes scholars. In making the University presentation Mr R. H.. Cabot referred to Mr Lovelock’s ability as a student, and to the reputation he had earned for himself as an outstanding all-round runner. There was no doubt that when he returned after seven years at Oxford University he would have gained the highest distinction in both sport and study. Mr Cabot handed Mr Lovelock a solid leather attache case as a memento from his comrades at the University. On behalf of the centre Mr E. L. Macassey spoke of Mr Lovelock’s prowess in sport, and asked him to accept a travelling rug. Mr Lovelock suitably replied. During the evening the following trophies, won during the past season, were presented:—Cabot Cup, for most points in track and field events at the Otago championships, J. Robilliard; Greenslade Cup, for most points in field events, L. M. Wright; List Shield, for most points at the Otago championships, Anglican Club; Barton Cup, for most points in relay racing, Anglican Club: Dewar Cup, for most points in cycling, J. C. Fogarty; Scott Cup., for second in cycling events, G. Hetherington; Milne Cup, for most points in distance events, A. R. Geddes; gold medal presented by Otago Centro for most points in track events at Southland Sub-centre, championships, B. Provo. Certificates won. at the Otago championships and the Southland Sub-centre championships were also presented-.