HARRIERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 28 July 1913, Page 3

HARRIERS.

THE PBOVLNCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP. *■ An important event in athletic circles took place on Saturday afternoon when tihe Wellington annual provincial Cross-Country Championships were held under the control of the holders of the White and McKay Challenge Shield (the Masterton Harrier OTub). Some ten teams took part, representing Masterton (2), Feilding, Central, Wellington and Brooklyn (4). The race took place whilst the football match was in progress, and some fifty runners faced the starter. The winners turned up in the Brooklyn "A" team, who were the pick of the lot on the score of condition. "Darkie" Byrne was the first man home, and won as he liked from B. J. Ballantyno, with G. Hut-. ton"and Chas. Murray (all of Brooklyn) following in that order. They were loudly applauded on completing the five-mile course, and the winner was carried shoulder hi;:;!). F. Hodson, of the Central Harriers, was the next to finish, and Pros;:, of Wellington, was sixth. The Masterton men then came in a hunch, Bradbury, Perston and Brunraond finishing in that order. The winner covered t!he course in 31min 20seo, which, al'though not fast time, was very satisfactory considering the many cles to be negotiated. The next three men arrived in the space of fifteen seconds. It took the first member of the 'Masterton team 32min lsec to cbvor the course, which is only a moderate . performance. Brooklyn thus won the coveted shield, with Central second and iMa-sterton third. After the race the competitors and official's were entertained at the Arcadia, tea rooms by the Masterton Harrier Club, when the Championship Shield and medals were presented, to the winning team. . Mr G. B. Sykes, M.P., occupied the chair, and; in making the presentation, congratulated the Brooklyn team on its royal win, and particularly Mr Byrne, s the individual champion, whose generalship was a big factor in securing the. first four places for his team. The .members of the winning team were loudly cheered on receiving their trophies, and representatives• of both the second place winners- (Central) and last year's champions (Masterton), heartily congratulated the Brooklyn boys on their well merited success. The winners of the Sealed Handicap places wore received with applause almost equal to the champions, that consistent old performer, W. Press, of the Wellington Harbeing especially well received as he rose to receive his second prize The captain of the Brooklyn Harriers (Mr Wilton), in replying, referred in eulogistic terms to the management "of the event, and_other visiting runners, aho spoke In similar terms, the five mile course being voted ideal; Tho Masterton Harriers were accorded three hearty cheers at the termination of the 'banquet, and tho secretary (Mr S. Kingston) *was the recipient'of some very complimentary remarks by visiting officials on the way he md carried out this duties. The sealed handicap was won 'by F. Hodgson, of jthe Central Harriet®, wrho-fmiaiwd-sfc'fth in the race, with W. Press (Wellington) second, arid D. Stewart (Feilding) third.