Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 11. 1964.

"On The Trail"... — Our Sports Correspondent Looks At The Harriers

page 5

"On The Trail"...

Our Sports Correspondent Looks At The Harriers

You may have seen them on wet, cold evenings, running through the rain, or in the early morning, striding out to keep warm. They come in ones, twos or in bunches, and go by the name of "harriers."

harriers

Originally, the term "harrier" applied to those members of the nobility who chased hares over the English countryside with hounds and horses. Crosscountry running as such developed in the Public Schools — oddly enough, Rugby was the one that started it — and spread to the universities and out. It was mainly a sport for the upper classes at this time.

The class barrier has been broken down, at least in running, but the name "harrier" has stayed, probably because it's easier to say than cross-country runner. Harrier clubs can be found in most towns throughout New Zealand, while Wellington, for instance, has about 10 different clubs. Several of these are church groups, most others are suburban.

Generally, harrier runs are either invitation runs or races. Invitation runs are held from the homes of friends and members of the club, the various runners sorting themselves into' packs." These packs proceed at the pace of the slowest member, the categories being fast, medium and social.

As a rule the social pack run five miles in the time the fast pack run 10 but enjoy themselves more. The afternoon tea after these runs is invariably sumptuous, it being a rare occurrence when all the plates are cleaned. Runs of this nature are undoubtedly what keep harrier clubs together, as enjoyable to the unfit as to the fit.

Racing is not enjoyable for the unfit. The course is usually between five and 10 miles long and has to have fences, streams, steep hills, perilous descents and oceans of mud to be regarded as a true cross-country course. Any runner wanting to win races has to train fairly rigorously, and how much time to put into training is something each athlete has to sort out for himself.

The Victoria University Harrier Club has been in existence since 1932. At the moment there are plenty of members, but the standard is low. There are several harriers attending University who are doing very well in the inter-club races, but unfortunately, they don't run for the university club. This is part of a situation that affects all university sport—athletes prefer to stay with their old clubs rather than take a part in university clubs. "Oh, bow thy head before the Goddess Apathy."

Harriers run in all weathers, over all surfaces, and occasionally at the most peculiar times. They're probably a little mad, but they're harmless, and they seem to enjoy themselves.