HARRIER OPENING

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20492, 7 May 1938, Page 25 (Supplement)

HARRIER OPENING

LAST SATURDAY’S GATHERING PROVINCIAL TITLES (By ‘'Stamina.", Saturday last marked the official opening of the 1938 season for the Hamilton Harrier Club. There was a very good muster of thirfy-four actual starters, though many prominent competitors were unable to attend Prior to the start of the run the gathering was addressed by the patron of the club (Mr W. C. A. Gould;, the president Mr R. Manderson). and the captain (Mr A. Crabb). Mr Gould started the two packs off on a 6i-mlle course. Good All-round Trail Although the distance may have been a little too far for the first run of the season the, trail-layers, L. Hood and W. Prisk, are to be commended on a good all-round trial. There was plenty of road work, which is verynecessary at this stage of the season, and the country traversed was fairly typical of what new club members may expect to encounter around HamiltonThe paper led from the Y.M.C.A. along Bryce Street, and thence via Tainui Street, Ruakiwi and Ohaupo Roads, to the foot of the Hospital Hill. Ju-st past the hospital the route led to the left, across country, and after a difficult gully was negotiated, crossed the the Te Awamutu Road again just south of the Melville School. Leading westward the paper led for another mile and a-half before joining Tawa Street and leading back to Bryce Street, via the Ohaupo Road. Visitor Leads the Way A visitor from Hastings and an old member of the Hamilton Club in G. Ready, showed the fast pack the way home. He was closely followed by E. ! K. Trow, a promising three-mile track performer who shows every sign of developing into a flrst-olass harrier. T. E. Collins, ex-Lynndale representative, was the next home, and further back came the Gardner brothers and W- Choat. Pre-sent club title-holder, R. Gardner, is not yet at his best, but is slowly and surely finding his true form. The only other members of the fast pack who are yet near form are Livingstone. Crabb. Roberts and Irwin, but with the season yet in its infancy there may be many dark horses still to show up from among last Saturday’s competitors. < An Impressive trio in the slower I division were Colyer, Taylor and Whiting. who will find themselves with the | medium pack in future. Those who , found the going a little hard last Saturday must not be discouraged—the first run is always the worst, and past experience has proved that those dften well behind In the first few runs find themselves nearer the top of the tree at the end of the season.

It was unfortunate that last Saturday a few members of each pack (particularly of the fast) set out to make a race of the run. A club harrier outing is not by any means a race, and at an opening run suoh a practice should least of all be indulged in. The golden rule of harrier pack work is to stay near the man in charge of the pack—those who are ready for lacing at this stage would be well advised to reserve their energy for a little later in the season. Big Meetings for Hamilton Definite advice has been received In Hamilton that the control of this season’s Provincial Cross - country Championships will be left In the hands of the Hamilton Harrier Club. The date for -this fixture will be August 13th, and the Waikato Sub-Centre has also approved the conduct of a Waikato Championship in Hamilton this year. These two meetings are a boon to harrier activities in this district and cannot help but give a decided Impetus to the sport. The Hamilton Club will lose no time in getting arrangements for both meetings under way. The thanks of the club are due to the Y.M.C.A. for the use of their hall and facilities for the opening run, to those who provided the excellent afternoon tea, and to the members of the ladie's’ committee who so willingly served It.