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The Spike or Victoria College Review 1936

Harrier Club

page 73

Harrier Club

". . . if you give way

Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,

Like to an enter'd tide, they all rush by

And leave you hindmost.

Or, like a gallant horse fall'n in first rank,

Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,

O'er-run and trampled on."

—Troilus and Cressida.

Saturday afternoons have again found the Harrier Club on the trail in good musters. The fragrance of gorse on sunlit hillsides at Tawa Flat, salt spray on the lips at Pencarrow, or the struggle against the southerly at Lyall Bay—each in its varied way yields pleasant memories, when we have exulted in the free play of unfettered muscles, and the invigoration of clean air.

In club races the first victory of the season went to Horsley in the Novice Race, with Reid second, and Horsley continued his success by making fastest time in the Sherwood Cup sealed handicap. D. Cairns ran a close second, and Scrymgeour, third, in this event, while Gabites proved the winner of the cup on handicap times. In the 10,000 metres championship at Lyall Bay, Cairns proved his real superiority over the rest of the club by covering the course, in the worst storm of the year, in 41 mins. 13 secs., three minutes ahead of the next man, T. Price. D. Viggers ran third, while the handicap title was awarded to A. Stewart, as Cairns was not eligible. The Club championship, decided on the results of the Sherwood and the 10,000 metres race, was won by Cairns.

In inter-club events the season was not outstandingly successful, chiefly owing to sickness among members of the team. The best effort was made by Cairns, who ran seventh in the Done Cup, and eleventh in the Provincial Championship at Masterton. Horsley ran second to Cairns, filling twenty-first place in both races. In the Vosseller Shield ten miles race the Club this year finished a full team, of whom Scrymgeour was the first home, with Bagnall second.

In Auckland, running in a heavy rain over a course in places inches deep in water, the four colleges competed in N.Z.U. Cross-country Championship for the trophy presented by Mr. G. F. Dixon. Two A.U.C. men, Stephenson and Hazard, were first home, enabling Auckland to score a decisive win with 15 points, Victoria second with 32. Our men gave their best effort to date as a team, Cairns, Horsley and Bagnall keeping well together to finish 5th, 6th and 7th respectively.

The usual activities of the Club have been continued and extended—including eight invitation runs—and new country has been traversed for novel trails. Now, as the season closes, we record here our thanks to our hosts and hostesses during the year, to Weir House for the use of the gym. for training, and to that energetic trainer, Mr. G. C. Sherwood, who has given so freely of his varied experience in developing the physical and intellectual prowess of the Club.