HARRIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, Page 24 (Supplement)

HARRIERS

HAMILTON CLUB. TEAM’S VISIT TO AUCKLAND. (By “Stamina.”) The oourse mapped out for the annual provincial ten-men teams race at Avondale last Saturday was of a type to which the Hamilton contingent j | i

was not altogether acoustomed, and was, If anything, & little too rugged for a championship oourse. The large field of 200 competitors got away to a smart beginning, but soon found themselves in difficulties after leaving the racecourse. At time's the trail was so narrow as to necessitate a long single-file formation, which re-sulted In a decided advantage for those who had been skilful or fortunate enough to Jump to the front at the gun. There were fully three miles of road work, including two steep grades, and those who wore spikes made hard work of this stage of the Journey. The cross-country work mostly comprised muddy gullies and gorse-covered paddocks. There was very little clean country, and it was definitely a heavy man’s day. The performance of the Lynndale team was an excellent one, and to have ten men home In the first 34 speaks for Itself. Crompton had things all his own way from start to finish, and his victory and that of his club were popular ones. A Sound Performance. A. D. Crabb, although suffering from a slight injury, showed his team mates the way home and registered a very sound performance to fill seventeenth position. He appears to be Improving with each run, and will probably find the course in the provincial championships more to his liking. R. Gardner was the next Hamiltonian to reach home, but suffered from an unavoidable lack of recent training. He will be at his best again before long, and by no means disgraced himself on Saturday. Brother Jim kept his end up well, and gave one of his best performances this i

season. He turned out for his club for practically the last time, and it is to be hoped that he can continue his harrier running in his new sphere. L. Irwin, G. Roberts and D. Millar came home In a bunch, with Alan Gardner ten places away. This quartette were together throughout the distance and all scored valuable points for their club. Choate, Armstrong and Bloore completed the Hamilton contingent and acquitted the'mselves fairly creditably. They were all slow to get going, but made up a lot of ground over the last lap of the course. The all-round performances of the Hamilton competitors was quite pleasing, and in view of the high standard set by the various Auckland starters they did very well to take fifth position amongst the ten clubs which entered teams. The next club visit to Auckland will be the occasion of the provincial crosscountry championships on August 14. It Is hoped that two teams at least will be entered and the local boys will be out to enhance the reputation they gained by winning the handicap section of this event last year.