CROSS-COUNTRY RUN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1939, Page 9

CROSS-COUNTRY RUN

WELLER RETAINS DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP PULLAR MAKES DETERMINED CHALLENGE. OTAGO WIN TEAMS' RACE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HAVELOCK NORTH. August 12. Establishing an early lead which he gradually increased in spite of a determined challenge by W. A. C. Pullar, who tailed him all the way, C. D. Weller successfully defended his title in the New Zealand cross-country championship today. The race, which was watched by a crowd of several thousand, was one of the hardest on record, and the ideal conditions that prevailed are reflected in 'the times. Weller completed the 6,j-mile course in 36.2 1-5, Pullar running him close in 36,14 4-5, and the third man, T. Kennedy, was home in 37.12. The teams race was won by Otago. Weller drew away soon after the start and at the li-mile mark was leading Pullar by about 10 yards with Geddes (Otago) about 40 yards back. At this stage Taylor (Hawke’s Bay) was lying seventh and the rest of the field was still fairly well bunched.

After another mile Weller seemed to be feeling the effects of the pace but still held the lead from Pullar, with Geddes in third position dropping back. The field was beginning to string out, and it was apparent that the race had developed into a battle of tactics between the three leaders. Pullar seemed to find the road to' his liking and managed to decrease the lead slightly till the open country was reached, from which point Weller gradually widened the gap and established a break which the others could not make up.

At the completion of the first lap the front positions were the same, with a gap of 300 yards separating them from the main bunch. Many of the tail-enders were beginning to labour. Weller and Pullar held their lead throughout the second lap and were not challenged at any stage. The winner finished strongly down the straight into the domain and was nearly 100 yards ahead of Pullar at the tape, with an even greater distance separating second and third.

There were a number of close finishes for the other places, A. G. Harding (Auckland) and Geddes practically dead-heating for fourth position. Individual times and placings are:— C. D. Weller (West Coast, N. 1.), 36.2 1-5. 1: W. A. C. Pullar (Wellington). 36.14 4-5, 2; T. Kennedy (Otago), 37.12, 3; A. G. Harding (Auckland), 37.14, 4; A. R. Geddes (O), 37.24, 5; H. E. Taylor (Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay), 37.29, 6; L. R. Watters (A), 37.29, 7; W. McKinnon (O), 37.30, 8; G. Davie (O), 37.38. 9: C. Littler (A), 37.41, 10; L. J. Logan (O), 37.41, 11; G. Bromley (W.C.N.L), 37.49, 12: A. G. Kofoed (A), 37.52, 13; W. J. McDowell (C), 37.53, 14; D. Porter (A). 38.4, 15; G. Gregory (W.), 38.11, 16; C. Bruce (W), 38. H 2-5, 17; A. Taylor (H.8.-P.8.), 38.11 3-5, 18; C. Johns (C), 38.17, 19; F. Hill (W.C.N.L), 38.19, 20; A. Bourgeois (W), 38.24, 21; P. Argue (W), 38.25, 22; W. Owens (W), 38.26, 23; C. Cox (W.C.N.L). 38.35, 24; N. Hearsey (W.C.N.L), 38.36, 25; A. Marrett (O), 38,52, 26; H. Novis (C.), 39.8,-27-; J. Riddington (W), 39.10, 28; M. Hunt (W.C.N.L), 39.23, 29; J. McIntyre (H.8.-P.8.), 39.30, 30. Teams placings were:— Otago (T. Kennedy, Geddes, McKinnon. Davie ). 25pts. 1; Auckland (Harding. Watters, Littler. Kofoed), 34pts. 2; Wellington (Pullar, Gregory. Bruce. Bourgeois) and West Coast (N. 1. (Weller, Bromley," Hill, Cox), 56pts. equal, 3; Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay (H. E. Taylor. A. Taylor. Mclntyre, D. Shattky), 82pts, 5; Canterbury (McDowell. Johns. Novis. Mooney), 86pts 6.