Harrier Club

1954: The very high standard achieved in 1953 was adequately maintained in this year, and this club could be considered to be one of the strongest in New Zealand. Numerically, however, it was not as strong as in some previous years and the slow pack suffered in consequence. About 20 was the average Saturday attendance. The inter-club races won were: the Dorne Cup, Wellington-Masterton relay, Bennet Memorial Shield, and the B Grade Provincial Championships and the Vosseler Shield. It was an outstanding feat for the two V.U.C. teams to fill first and second placings in the Shaw Baton Relay.

Club races: The novice race at Worser Bay was won by Peter Joyce in 14 minutes 2 seconds, followed by runner-up R. C. Croker and third R. D. Orange. The Veterans' Race was won by G. R. Stevens in 13 minutes 52 seconds, followed by R. I. Gilberd and T. H. Beaglehole. The Sherwood Cup (Paekakariki) was won by J. L. Riseborough, the runner-up was R. C. Croker and third was G. Caddie. The Club Championships run"—R. I. Gilberd first, J. C. Hawke second, and G. R. Stevens third. The Endeavour Cup was won by J. P. T. Holden, second was G. F. A. Ward and third J. P. Wiles. The fastest time in these races was that of J. C. Hawke, 46 minutes. In the N.Z.U. Cross Country Championships at Paekakariki, for the Dixon Trophy, V.U.C. was last with 19 points, while C.U.C. gained 39, A.U.C. 25 and O.U. 61 points. For the Shackleford Cup V.U.C. with 25 points lost to A.U.C. with 30. The individual placings were R. I. Gilberd, 1; G. R. Stevens, 2; T. H. Beaglehole, 7; A. C. Gow, 9; P. J. Joyce, 11; and R. C. Croker, 22. Awards were: N.Z.U. Blue to R. I. Gilberd, V.U.C. Blues to T. H. Beaglehole, R. I. Gilberd, A. C. Gow, P. J. Joyce, G. R. Stevens and G. M. Truebridge. The Cairns Cup was won by R. D. Orange.

1955: An excellent season was experienced this year, with pack running stronger than the previous year and a number of successes in teams events by racing members, although not quite reaching the heights of the previous year. Wins were recorded in the Wellington-Masterton relay (in record time), Provincial Championships A and B grades, Shaw Baton Relay and the Vosseler Shield.

Club races: Novice race (Worser Bay) "— won by J. B. Ryan in 15 minutes 30 seconds, followed by R. D. Orange, R. C. Croker. The Veterans' race was won by G. R. Stevens in 14 minutes 7 seconds, second was J. C. Hawke and third A. C. Gow. The Sherwood Cup was won by J. L. Riseborough, runner-up was B. Fifield and third J. P. Holden. The Club Championship was won by G. R. Stevens, second was A. C. Gow and third J. C. Hawke. C. P. McBride won the Endeavour Cup, followed by J. L. Riseborough and B. Fifield. The fastest time was A. C. Gow's of 47 minutes 21 seconds. In the N.Z.U. Cross Country Championships at Dunedin, V.U.C got 36 points for the Dixon Trophy, A.U.C. 29 and C.U.C. 28. For the Shackleford Cup V.U.C. gained 55 points and A.U.C. 44. Individual placings were: R. I. Gilberd, 5; page 87 A. C. Gow, 6; I. Sussex, 12; R. D. Orange, 13; J. B. Ryan, 19, and R. C. Croker, 20. V.U.C. Blues went to R. I. Gilberd, Gow and Stevens, and J. C. Ryan won the Cairns Cup. The members of the record-breaking team in the Wellington-Masterton relay in order of running were M. C. Browne. J. B. Ryan, G. M. Truebridge, R. D. Orange, I. Sussex, T. H. Beaglehole, R. I. Gilberd, A. C. Gow, J. C. Hawke and G. R. Stevens.

1956: This year was a high influx of new members to the Club but also the loss of several of our key runners of recent years, and the high competitive standard suffered as a consequence. Although no open trophies were retained, the club's teams performed most creditably on several occasions. V.U.C. was second in the Shaw Baton relay and in the B Grade Provincial Championships, and third placings were registered in the Wellington-Masterton relay, Dome Cup and A Grade Provincial Championships.

Club races: Novice race, D. Deacon won in 15 minutes 22 seconds, followed by R. C. Croker and B. Fifield. In the Veterans' Race P. J. Joyce ran in 14 minutes 12 seconds, followed by G. R. Stevens and R. I. Gilberd. The Sherwood Cup was won by W. G. Malcolm, second was B. S. Brice and third P. Ellen. First three in the Club Championships were A. C. Gow, W. G. Malcolm and R. C. Croker, The atrocious conditions and extreme cold forced many ruunners to retire at the end of the first lap. Placings for the Endeavour Cup were A. McKechnie, M. Norris and R. Hewitt; the fastest time was P. J. Joyce's 48 minutes 47 seconds.

In the N.Z.U. Cross Country Championships at Christchurch V.U.C. was third in the Dixon Trophy and second in the Shackleford Cup. Individual placings were A. C. Gow, 3; R. D. Orange, 9; W. G. Malcolm, 17; W. D. Pringle, D. Tucker and D. Deacon. This year's awards were a V.U.C. Blue to A. C. Gow and the Cairns Cup to P. O'Brien.