Cross Country Championships

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 6

Cross Country Championships

ALEXANDRA PARK EVENTS COOPER WINS SENIOR RACE Daring the progress of the big cycle race on Saturday afternoon the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association conducted the senior and junior two-mile crosscountry championships of the province at Alexandra Park A big programme of track, field, and novelty eve nts were to have been held also, but heavy rain caused the officials to postpone this part of the meeting. THE SENIOR RACE Of the five starters in this event., N. F. Cooper was the favourite. He was

third man in the Auckland crosscountry team which represented this centre in the Dominion event at Christchurch last August. His supporters got. a bit of a shock, there- ■ foie, when K. P. Henshall ook the lead at the start. He was not to remain first for long, b owever.

After half a round, Cooper caught him, and from then on the result was never in doubt. At the end of one and a-half rounds Cooper led Henshall by 50 yards, with Gilchrist h«* ndy. Cooper now lengthened his stride, and ran on, to win by about 180 yards, while Henshall was hard put ti come in a yard ahead of Gilchrist. L. Barker, and W. Watt, were the other starters. The former dropped out after one arid a-half lap 3, and. Watt finished a long way behind Gilchrist. Cooper’s fine performance certainly stamps hint as Auckland’s second steeplechaser—coming after the peerless J. W. Savican. At the same; time, his win detracts nothing from Henshall’s merit, who as one of the younger brigade has done remarkably well all winter. GREEN, JUNIOR CHAMPION Only three competitors faced the starter in the Junior championship— J. R. Green.yF. Adams, and P. Hulbert. Green took the lead from the very beginning, which ho maintained with an ever-widening margin throughout. He led Adams past the fiag the first time by about 25 yards, and shortly after Hulbert dropped out. Green took things fairly easy until the last lap, when he was about 150 yards ahead of his dogged rival. Lengthening his stride over the final stretch, he eventually won by 2°o yards, after showing form which marks him as one of Auckland’s most promising distance men. Results: SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP N. F. Cocper J E. P. Henshall - G. Gilchrist 3 Time, llmin 50sec. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP J. Green \ F. Adams - Time. 12min 37sec. MEDALS PRESENTED TO AUCKLAND CHAMPIONS SATURDAY’S FUNCTION At a smoke social and banquet tendered in honour of the visiting: cyclists at the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday evening, the presicicnt of the local centre, Mr. Wm. Morton, presented the medals won at the sixth Auckland provincial amateur championship meeting, held on February 5. 1027. and various other trophies. The following athletes came forward : —• J, H. Wade, first and fastest time in New Zealand. 50 miles amateur cycling road race championship. C. G. Galbraith, second and second fastest time in Now Zealand. 50 miles amateur cycling i*oad race championship. J. W. Savidan, winner of New Zealand 10,000 metres cross-country championship, Auckland mile, and three mile champion. Second in throwing the javelin.

A. J. Elliott, 100 yards and 220 yards Auckland champion. J. W. Shirley, hop, stop, and jump champion, 120 yards hurdles chain-

pion, throwing the discus champion, high jump champion, second in broad jump championship. M. P. Byrnes, Auckland mile and three mile cycling champion. D. h . Grant, putting the shot champion; :L6lb hammer throw champion. G. Wade, throwing the javelin champion. E. J. Blakeway, Auckland two-mile cycle champion. F. J. Casey, second in two mile cycle championship. W. T. Bray, second in three mile cycle championship. H. McCoy, second in 220 yards championship. J. C. Tipping, second in throwing the hummer championship. W. Fausett, second in high jump championship. Several medal winners, including L. C. Williams, A. C. Garlick, and Gordon Kells, were not present.