The VUW Harrier Club recently held its annual Endeavour Cup race. This 7% mile handicap race starts and ends opposite the Robert Stout Building, the course passing through Kelburn and Northland.

The 1970 winner was Tony Woolhouse. Running with Martin Fisher off six minutes he had caught the rest of the field by the summit of Tinakori Hill, except Conor McBride (off 25 minutes).

Tony beat Martin home by 24 seconds. Third home off a 5 minute handicap was Brian Dawkins, 59 seconds behind Martin.

Fastest time was recorded by Eric Cairns (off 2 minutes) reducing the club record by 51 seconds to 44 min 54 seconds. Second fastest time was recorded by Ian Stockwell (45 min 18 sec) who also broke the old record. Third fastest was Tony Woolhouse.

Fresher Bernie O'Donnell on the basis of his run here where he recorded a 9th fastest time was awarded the Cairns Cup for the most improved harrier this season.

A notable absentee from this race was Ian Hunt who was up in Napier competing in the Hawkes Bay 10 mile road champs where he finished second.

10 Mile Road Champs

The race this year was run over the new course at Rongotai (four 2½ mile laps). The Victoria runners improved on the 1969 performance by finishing fourth in the teams event.

First home for Vic was Ian Hunt (9) with a time of 53min 42 sec. Next was Ian Stockwell (14). Third man was George Seconi (23). Others to finish were Tony Woolhouse, Roger Clark, Tony Burge, Bernie O'Donnell and Tony Hirst.

20 Mile Gold Cup

This race run over a cross country road course at Trentham consists of four 5 mile laps. The conditions this year were atrocious with a cold wind blowing and muddy patches on the cross country section over three feet deep in parts.

The Vic runners to a large degree found the conditions very taxing. Ian Hunt, Tony Woolhouse and Eric Cairns being forced to withdraw at the 15 mile mark.

However, veterans Jim Callaghan and Roger Clark, plus Phil Williams and Martin Fisher managed to see out the distance and finish this exhausting race which was the last of the harrier season.

—Ian Stockwell.