Wellington-Masterton Relay 1919

The 1949 Wellington-Masterton Relay was run on June 11th under perfect conditions, and although the race resulted in a win for the Lynndale (Auckland) Harrier Club, the Heliopolis Cup was won by the Varsity team. Originally won by a 2nd N.Z.E.F. Harrier team in Egypt, the Cup was presented to the Wellington Harrier' Sub-Committee, and is now awarded to the team which records the greatest improvement in time over their last year's performance in the relay. This year the Victoria team sliced eight minutes off their old time!

On paper, it looked as though the team would be one of the strongest ever fielded, and prospects were definitely very bright—but not for long. In the first place, it was discovered that Clem Hawke, Club and N.Z.U. Champion, would be in Australia on the date of the race. However, there was still hope. But during the last week, Mawson, Goodwin. Whittle and Barnard had to withdraw through illness: here we said goodbye to all our hopes . . . that we need not have done so lies to the credit of the team as it was on the day, especially those runners who were called upon at very short notice.

The first lap from Wellington to Petone was run by John Riseborough, a newcomer to the Club, who had to run against some of the best men in the other clubs, and could not be expected to beat them. However, he hung on well, and handed over to Max Clift at Petone. Running better than ever before, Max overhauled the teams in front, so that when Bob Hunt (ex-OU) took the baton at Taita he was able to move up three places. Fastest time for that lap was recorded by Bob, and his run did a lot towards chopping those eight minutes off the previous time.

Ken Handcock took over at the next change and ran very well indeed to record second fastest time for the lap. Before the race he had been told that he was backed to complete the four and a half miles in twenty-three and three-quarter minutes (an optimistic estimate) and in fact he did this! During the next lap, which is one of the toughest in the whole race, a couple of places were dropped, but Mike Truebridge picked one up again on the uphill run, and Johnny Holden, the Club Meteor, put up his usual good downhill performance, and held sixth place at the change in Featherston. Max Matheson kept will up against more experienced runners, and enabled John Gully to hold on equally well in the ninth lap. Both these runners were well inside the schedule that had been assigned to them before the race!

Bill Wright (ex-CUC) ran the last stretch for Varsity, and Irishman that he is refused to concede anything to any of the other teams. The total time for the race was six hours twenty-four minutes and thirty-seven seconds—eight minutes faster than last year, and we hope, ten minutes slower than next year!

The result of the Relay is really most encouraging, and bodes well for the NZUCCC at Winter Tournament. Intensive training continues, and allowing for at least some slight improvement between now and August, the winning of the Dixon Trophy should not be an idle dream. On the other hand, it is not altogether comforting to think that at least three Varsity students were members of other teams competing in the Relay—while their point of view is understandable, is it justifiable? They cannot argue that the standard of running at Varsity is below that of the Clubs to which they belong, nor that there are not opportunities for "recognition" in University teams . . . We hope that some will come forward and help us to make sure of the Dixon Trophy.