HARRIERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1938, Page 3

HARRIERS

MASTERTON CLUB SATURDAY’S EVENTS The Masterton Harrier Club held two races on Saturday under ideal conditions. The first was the annual novice championship, won by G. Sutherland from J. Pringle, while the second was a five mile scratch race for the benefit of the handicapper, who wanted a guide as to form for the season. This race had an unusual finish in that G. Gregory, R. Shaw and W. Pullar finished together for first place. The sealed handicap was won by R. Gully with H. Howard second. Both put up excellent performances, and more will be expected of them during the season. The course which had to be changed this week on account of the flooding of the river, led from the Oval by way of Archer, Elizabeth, Eaton and Church streets to Jeans Street. After passing through the first stock yards, Colombo Road was followed to the second stock yard. From here the runners ran through Emerson’s paddocks, again across Colombo Road, over the hospital paddocks to Te Ore Ore road. This road was followed as far as Faulkner’s bowser station, where the trail led back through the Oval for the athletes to follow the same course a second time. The novice race was disappointing in that only two runners faced the starter. G. Sutherland immediately took the lead, never being troubled at any stage,. When he eventually reached the Oval it was evident that he had run the race to suit himself, for he finished comfortably. The time was 20min 30 sec. In the five mile scratch race about 15 members toed the mark. C. K. Long was the first to show out, and this runner led as far as the first stock yards with Gregory, Wright, R. Shaw, Harris and Pullar in close attendance. On entering Colombo Road Gregory had taken charge with Pullar, Shaw and Long running evenly. Cutting through the second sale yards to enter Emerson’s paddocks, Gregory, Pullar and Shaw showed the way to Long by 20 yards, who was a similar distance ahead of Wright. At this stage of the race about 350 yards was the distance between the leaders and the tail of the field, who, it was obvious, were not over-exerting themselves. On reaching the Te Ore Ore Road the leading trio ran together past Faulknor's bowser station, through the Oval and again over the second round. They never separated at any stage of the race and ran home together winners by about 150 yards from C. K. Long, who had a lead of about 75 yards over C. Wright. The first six places went to R. Shaw, G. Gregory, W. Pullar, Ist equal; C. K. Long, 4th; C. Wright, sth; H. Harris 6th.

To win the sealed handicap, R. Gully ran one of his best races to date over country, and further exhibi-

tions such as this are expected from him when the club has visiting clubs to meet later in the season. It was a really fine effort on the part of H. Harris which gave him second place to Ralph Gully. Howard Harris is a keen trainer, and his run on Saturday is a reflection of the time he puts into getting physically fit. . Club Captain Jim Long ran a good race to be fourth after the dead-heat-ing winners, and to take third place in the sealed handicap. He is one of the club’s most consistent trainers, and improvement each week will be evident in his running from now on. Sealed handicap times and places were:—R. Gully, 29min 25sec; H. Harris 29min, 59sec; C. K. Long, 30min 40sec. There were some real disappointments in Saturday’s race, and the most notable of these were Baikie, Gillions sCnd Adcock. Baikie, while one the one hand doing a lot of training, does not seem to relish hard racing, while Gillions’s and Adcock’s racing would improve if they were to train. Members are reminded that the club are to meet the Hutt Valley club for the Saunders Cup and special training will be engaged in during the next fortnight. Training nights are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on the Park Oval.