HARRIER ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1938, Page 3

HARRIER ACTIVITIES

MASTERTON CLUB TEAMS’ RACE ON SATURDAY The Masterton Harrier Club held a run on Saturday over about six miles. In view of the club’s meeting with the Wanganui Club next Saturday, a teams race was held. The runners walked to the Hospital swing bridge, where the race started. The course led from the bridge down to the paddocks below the hospital, across Colombo Road, at the stock yards, into Emerson's paddocks. From here the runners skirted the river until the Raumahanga bridge was reached. Crossing the bridge the trail again followed the river bed for 1 2 miles, where a right-angle turn brought the athletes on to Wangaehu road. This road was followed for about threequarters of a mile, where another detour over paddocks, crossing the Te Ore Ore road, and again over paddocks brought the runners to the Raumahanga bridge once more. A false trail, which had been laid from the foot of the bridge up the river for about 300 yards was the subject of much satirical comment when the members arrived home. From the Ruamahanga bridge the outward course was followed home. There were four teams of four runners each under captains. These were as follow: —

First team:—G. Gregory (capt), R. Warham, J. Haise, J. Pringle. Second team:—C. Wright (capt), C. K. Long, C. Ross, J. Warham. Third Team:—R. Shaw (capt), P. Barrer, C. Pringle, I. Shaw. Fourth team:—W. Pullar (capt), H. Harris, J. Baikie, R. Gully. As each team had to keep together all the time, a team was only as fast as its slowest runner, consequently the pace was never on at any stage of the afternoon. Very early in the race it was apparent that Roy Shaw’s team would lie hard to beat, for he had four men in the first five at the bridge going out. Along the river-bed and through to Wangaehu Road, C. Pringle was putting in good work for the third team. On Wangaehu Road the runners were well spread out. Shaw’s team was still away out in front, followed by Pullar’s team, and then Wright’s and Gregory’s teams, both well spread out. By the time Te Ore Ore road was reached, Harris had deposed Pringle as leader, and when the runners came to the bridge to start on a false trail, Harris was out in front with a 20 yard lead. When this trail had been found to be false, Gregory’s team, which had been a long way in the rear, now had a commanding lead, and they had no difficulty in holding this until the race finished. Gregory’s team was first, followed by Wright's team, Shaw’s team was third and Pullar’s team was disqualified for not finishing together. Three runners showed out particularly on Saturday:—C. Ross, H. Harris and C. Pringle; Colin Ross ran a particularly good race, always being with the leaders, and this can also be said of Howard Harris. It is hoped that these two runners can produce form like this next Saturday.

Colin Pringle was with the leaders all the way on Saturday, but it has been very noticeable this year, that when the club has been racing another club, he does not reproduce this form. KIATERE CLUB A TRAINING RUN Owing to the strenuous programme of the past few weeks, and for the weeks to come, the Kiatere Harrier Club held a training run over a course of about seven miles, embracing a good variety of country. Sixteen members started from the Solway Showgrounds, and the course led to the railway line, where a roundabout route was taken to the sawmill. The main road was then crossed to follow the Waingawa River for about two miles. Then the runners struck the Manaia swamps, and came down South Road into High Street, and then back to the starting point. The race resulted in a deadheat for first with W. Burgess and R. Greeks, with W. Burns a hundred yards away. O. Gaskin ran an exceptionally fine race to finish 100 yards behind W. Burns.

Next Saturday the first invitation run will be held from the residence of Mr Burns, Whatman Road.