The Dixon Trophy Race

Twenty-two successive days of rain had left the Silverstream course in a terrible condition when 24 runners from the four Colleges were sent off for the start of the N.Z.U. Cross Country Championships on August 23rd. Frank O'Flynn took the lead in the first mile from Coombes (O.U.) and Kirkwood (O.U.). Dick Daniell, Peter de la Mare and G. Rowberry were bunched together and at the end of the first lap were running 9th, 10th, and 11th, with Ian Morton and Ralph Fenton further back. Meanwhile Frank O'Flynn had increased his lead from Coombes and finished

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strongly to win by 35 seconds, becoming Victoria's third individual title-holder since the inception of the race. G. Rowberry, never at his best over rough country, ran magnificently to move up to seventh place, with Peter de la Mare and Dick Daniell just behind him. But with four V.U.C. men in the first ten, the fate of the trophy was still in doubt till Marshall (Otago's fourth man) just beat I. Morton in a desperate sprint to the tape, giving Otago the Dixon Trophy by one point from Victoria, in the closest finish in the history of the race.

The final result was:—

1. Otago (Coombes 2, Kirkwood 5, Stafford 6, Marshall 12). Total 24.

2. Victoria (O'Flynn 1, Rowberry 7, de la Mare 8, Daniell 9). Total 25.

Once again the Club's many friends have extended hospitality to us, and to them all we are deeply grateful. We especially would like to mention Mr G. F. Dixon, Club President and donor of the Dixon Trophy, whose continued interest and goodwill leaves us greatly in his debt. Our best wishes go with all those past and present members of the Club who have gone or are about to go overseas.