HARRIER ACTIVITIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 July 1939, Page 9

HARRIER ACTIVITIES

KEATS TROPHV CONTEST

NARROW WIN FOR HASTINGS.

PULLAR'S BRILLIANT EFFORT.

In an exciting contest on Saturday afternoon a contingent from the Hastings Harrier Club succeeded in wresting the Keats Trophy from the Masterton Harrier Club by the narrow margin of 85 points to 86. The race was over a two lap course of 6.' miles, the first nine men to count in either team. Embracing the championship trail, the paper led out of the Masterton Park south gates via Elizabeth Street to Jeans Street, through the sale yards, over the Waipoua bridge, down along the river-bank, over fences, through a swamp, along the Ruamahanga river bank, over paddocks to the Te Ore Ore Road, down to the Allen Memorial bridge, over the Park oval and around again.

Twenty-five harriers lined up to be sent away by Mr J. J. Hunter, W. Pullar, Gregory, Taylor (Hastings) and R. Shaw setting the pace. At the Park Oval with one lap covered. W. Pullar (17.30) led by 100 yards from G. Gregory (17.40) with A. Taylor (18.11) (Hastings) 50 yards behind, followed by R. Shaw (18.25), Shattky and Tulley' (Hastings) (18.50). R. Wyeth (19.0) and B. Anderson (Hastings). Then in a bunch came Wright, Barrer, Spurdie (Hastings), H. Carle, A. Andrew, G. Wickens, G. Frederickson, C. K. Long, and Dobson, Tucker, Sheppard (Hastings), R. Gully, C. J. Carle, C. Orr and R. Baikie. W. Pullar was setting a scorching pace, and established a commanding lead, the positions at the Colombo Road bridge on the second lap showing Pullar out in front by 250 yards from Gregory, who was 150 yards ahead of Taylor, followed by R. Shaw who led by 200 yards from Tully; Shattky, and R. Wyeth with the rest of the field bunched 150 yards behind. At the finish around the Oval, Pullar had taken a runaway lead to win by a quarter of a mile from Gregory, with A. Taylor (Hastings) 200 yards behind, R. Shaw 220 yards away, and Shattky and Tully dead-heated 450 yards further back.

Pullar thoroughly deserved his brilliant win, in covering 6.| miles in 34.46 sec. The winner of the Hutt Valley championship on Saturday took 37.35 over a course similar to that of the one at Masterton, if not easier. C. Weller, who tied with Owen in the Robinson Shield race, Wellington v Palmerston North, will have to look to his laurels if the national title is not to go to Pullar.

Details of the race are as follow (Hastings harriers being designated H):—W. A. C. Pullar 34.46, 1; G. Gre gory 35.54, 2; A. Taylor (H) 36.38, 3; R. Shaw 37.5, 4; Tully (H) and Shattky (H) dead-heat 38.19, 5; R. Wyeth 39.3, 7; Anderson (H) 39.23, 8; C. Wright (H) 39.27, 9; P. Barrer (H) 39.28, 10; Spurdie (H) 39.34, 11; H. Carle 39.49, 12; A. Andrew and G. Wickens dead heat 40.12, 13; Dobson (H) 40.16, 15; G. Frederickson 40.17, 16; C. K. Long 40.39. 17; Tucker (H) 41,41, 18; Sheppard (H) 42.19, 19; Robertson (H) 42.38, 20; Cooper (H) 42.44, 21; R. Gully 43.9, 22. Also ran; C. J. Carle, C. Orr and J. Baikie.-

The Masterton sealed handicap resulted:—W. Pullar 34.46, 1; R. Shaw 35.5, 2; C. K. Long 35.24, 3. For Hastings, Spurdie 34.34 was the winner, Robertson 34.38, 2; and Barrer 34.43, 3. The Juniors held an open handicap event over one lap of the same course. Five were sent off on handicap by Mr J. Hunter. Scandrett set off at 15sec followed by K. Cairns 3.50, D. Cairns 4.15. Peter Greenlees 4.25, and C. Reynolds 4. ! 45. The lads found the track rather heavy going, but some good times were registered. Scandrett was first man home in 22.54, C. Reynolds 24.4, 2; P. Greenlees 24.20, 3; D. Cairns 27.20, 4; K. Cairns 29.0, 5. The future of the Masterton Club is very bright with such a keen and pro mising lot of younger runners. The Hastings visitors and supporters of the Masterton Club were later hospitably entertained by the ladies’ com mittee of the Masterton Club at afternoon tea in the Masonic Hall.

The Masterton vice-president Mi’ L. A. Keats, presented his handsomely mounted trophy to the Hastings Club, captain, and expressed pleasure at the keen and friendly contest. Mr R. Gully. Masterton Club captain, Mr J. J. Hunter, handicapper, and Mr Robertson, patron of the Hastings Club also spoke. An old and valued supporter of the club, Mr G. R. Sykes, was warmly applauded for his well chosen remarks. The ladies' committee were accorded musical honours, on the motion of Mr C. Wright (Hastings), a former secre tary of the Masterton Club. An apology for absence was received from Mr I. D. Cameron (president), and Mr J. Robertson. M.P. Among those present was Mr T. R. Barrer. whose son was running for Hastings.

KIATERE CLUB

ALBERT COX CUP.

WON BY K. GREEKS

Running a well-judged race under ideal weather conditions. K. Greeks again proved himself a first class runner when he took the load to win

the annual race for the Cox Cup on Saturday. A two-lap championship trail was laid by W. MacDonald. Ten seniors were sent away by thc starter. Mr D. Turnbull, and from a fast sprint along thc road to High Street. Greeks, W. Burns. W. MacDonald. J. Laing and A. MacDonald, running as a team, took the lead from A. Addison. L. Frances. R. Searancke and D. Nelson. This order was maintained for the greater part of the first lap. with Greeks always in the lead, and closely followed by Burns. Laing, and W. MacDonald. Throughout the remainder of the race Greeks gradually improved his position from Burns and J. Laing and carried on to win comfortably in the excellent time of 30 minutes 39secs.

Other times were: W. Burns, 31.11. 2; J. Laing. 31.50, 3: W. MacDonald. 32.10, 3. A sealed handicap run in conjunction with thc race resulted: W. Burns 1, 30.31; R. Greeks 2. 30.39: A. MacDonald 3. 31.1.

Prior to the big race a very interesting junior race of 21 miles over one lap of the senior trail resulted in a very popular win for M. Doyle. Doyle ran an excellent race to win in 17min 50secs. From the start the lead was taken by N. Jacobsen. M. Doyle and F. Sexton, closely followed by C. Summers. C. Stewart, T. Hodgett and G. Laing. The leaders improved their position throughout the race and on reaching the front of the hill about 300 yards from home Doyle began his sprint, followed by Jacobsen and Sexton. In an excitifig Criish Doyle 1

gained the decision, with Jacobsen less than one yard behind, and Sexton, who proved the surprise of the day by reason of his splendid running, third, also less than one yard from the next man. Times for' this race were: M. Doyle 17-50. N. Jacobsen 17.50 1-5, F. Sexton 17.50 2-5. Sealed handicap points resulted: Sexton 16.41, 1; Doyle 17.45, 2 Jacobsen 17.50,