HARRIER ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1939, Page 9

HARRIER ACTIVITIES

BENSON GATE TROPHY EASY WIN FOR WANGANUI GREGORY FILLS SECOND PLACE. The warm hospitality of the Wanganui Harrier Club was fully extended to the members of the Masterton Harrier Club who made the trip to Wanganui on Saturday for the Benson Gate (a beautifully mounted silver gate) trophy contest. Wanganui retained the trophy by the good margin of 28 points to 90. The members of the Masterton Club who travelled to Wanganui on Friday night were joined by another party on Saturday morning and were tendered a civic luncheon at the Imperial Hotel. Mr W. L. Rogers, Mayor, welcomed the Masterton visitors, and referred to the happy inter-change of visits between the clubs. Mr W. J. Cotteril, M.P., and Messrs W. Young (patron) and Clark (president) also spoke. Mr L. A. Keats, manager of the Masterton team replied on behalf of the Masterton harriers, thanking the speakers for their kindly remarks. An enjoyable dance in a beautifully decorated hall which was largely attended »nd a picture party to see “The Citadel” rounded off a splendid day. On Sunday morning the Wanganui patron and patroness, Mr and Mrs W. Young, entertained all the harriers and supporters at morning tea. The trophies won were presented by Mrs Young, and the Benson Gate was presented to E. Guran (Wanganui club captain). At a function on Sunday morning a much-appreciated sporting gesture by the Wanganui Club was to hand the trophy to the Masterton club captain, R. Gully, to hold for three months. Several speakers referred in a happy vein to the wonderfully cordial relationship existing between the two clubs. Cheers were inter-changed and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” concluded a happy gathering.

Roy Shaw (38.28) and M. Sellar (40.5) won the Masterton club's sealed handicap event, and L. Shand (37.18) the Wanganui event. Forty-four harriers (13 of which came from the Masterton Club) faced the starter on the Wanganui racecourse before a large gathering of spectators. The race was over a, gruelling trail at a fast pace and was a real test of endurance. The trail followed roadways, up a steep incline and over a hill so steep as to require crawling up, through bracken and gorse, up sand hills and through swamps, and back over a rough shingle road, the whole making a perfect course. From a fast start, to Springdale Hill, the two mile peg, C. Cox (Wanganui) and G. Gregory (Masterton) llmin. 20 secs., lead from Pembethey (Wanganui) 11.30, Kiddle 11.50, Johnston 11.55, Carr 11.58, Clark, L. Ravenwood 12.5 (Wanganui); R. Shaw (Masterton) 12.10, M. Sellar (Masterton), Grant, Walker, G. Ravenwood, Clarke (Wanganui), H. Carle and Ron Wyeth (Masterton) in that order. At the four mile water jump times and places were: — Cox (Wanganui) 21.20, Gregory (Masterton) 22.30, Pembethey 23min., Johnston 23.15, Kiddle 23.20, Grant 23.2 b. Shaw 23.32, followed by the same string as at the two mile peg. Cox finished strongly to defeat G. Gregory, with Roy Shaw sixth man in. Splendid races were ran by the back markers, and although beaten, Masterton acquitted themselves creditably. The general behaviour of the Masterton visitors on and off the field was favourably commented upon by the Wanganui Club officials. Afternoon tea was served by a capable ladies’ committee under the grandstand. Wanganui will pay a return visit in about five week’s time. for. the second Benson Gate contest.

Details of the race are as follow, Wanganui harriers being designated by the letter W, and Masterton harriers by the letter M: — C. Cox (W) 38min. 28secs., 1; G. Gregory (M) 40.7, 2; K. Johnston (W), 40.27, 3; A. Pemberthey (W), 40.30, 4; F. Kiddle (W), 40.50. 5; R. Shaw (M), 40.58, 6; N. Grant (W), 41.25, 7; G. Johnston( W), 41.53, 8; L. Ravenwood (W), 42.19, 9; H. Walker (W), 42.25, 10; C. Ravenwood (W), 42.30, 11; H. Clark (W), 43.9, 12; A. Hoskin (W). 43.10, 13; A. Clark (W), 43.32, 14; B. Adams (W), 43.33, 15; R. Wyeth (M), 43.38, 16: J. Carr (W), 43.45, 17; M. Sellar (M), 43.50, 18; H. Carle (M), 43.51, 19; L. Moorhouse (W), 43.53, 20; C. Harper (W), 44.40, 21; J. Wilkins (W), 44.45, 22; M. West (W), 45.17. 23; G. Hallam (W), 45.19, 24; A. York (W), 45,21, 25; C. Craig (W), 46.12, 26; L. Shand (W), 46.18, 27; A. Simpson (W), 46.23, 28; A. Andrew (M), 47.3, 29; W. Laneridge (W), 47.44, 30; G. Fredrickson (M), 48.30, 31; R. Gully (M), 48.35, 32; E. Guran (W), 48.35, 33; B. Hallam (W), 49.15, 34; C. Carle (M), 49.26, 35; I. Brooks (W), 49.50, 36; C. Morgan (W), 50.47, 37; R. Bell and C. Orr (M), 51min„ 38 equal); I. Shaw (M), 51.17, 40; P. Lock (W), 52.21, 41; J. Hammond (W),52.48, 42.