Harriers

The Victoria Harrier Club is beginning a long climb back to its former glory out of the slough into which it had sunk, i.e., the standard of harriers at Victoria seems to be improving.

Two members of the Tournament team finished in the first 25 places in the Wellington provincial championships, an encouraging omen or portent or something— encouraging, anyway.

George Seconi, a first-year student, won the club championship by about three minutes and has generally been running very well. A foot injury has handicapped his training, but he still looks Victoria's best bet for a place in the first eight at Tournament. Another running in his first Tournament is Dave Mackay, a convert from rugby. Experienced Tournament harriers Bob Wilson, John Meade, Malcolm Buchanan and Geoff Rashbrooke round out the team, with Wilson quite likely to provide a surprise—it's about time he did.

The race should be a close contest between Otago and Auckland. The individual winner will probably be Peter Welsh from Otago, title-holder for the last three years. But with runners of the calibre of Barry Jones (Canterbury), Jim Power (Lincoln), and Jim Farmer (Auckland) in the field, a bookmaker could well lose his shirt, The Victoria team will be quite happy to beat Massey, something they couldn't do last year.

As in most clubs, the non-competing members are lending a helping hand to organise the race, and without this kind of help it would be impossible to hold Tournaments. So as you cheer the winner across the line, spare a thought for the poor guy out in the sand dunes directing the stragglers how to get back to the finish.