Harrier Champs

The Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay harrier championships were held recently at Hansen Road, Hexton, in bright sunshine over a treacherous cross-country course saturated with water from several previous day's rain.

Gisborne runners were dominant in both the Colts' races, with Willie Koia courageously finishing in first place in the A grade race after having fractured a bone in his foot a mile from the finish, and William James claiming the B grade title.

Gisborne harriers, Dave Bughes, Graham Thomas, and Kevin Tait, competing in the senior race of 6½ miles

Top Gisborne junior, Allan Saunders, hurdling a fence

R. Wilton (Napier) and W. White (Hastings), leading the field in the second lap of the senior race.

Runners negotiating rough sheep tracks round the side of a hill

The big field of starters in the Junior race commencing their run

A line of runners straining up the side of a hill

Willie Koia sprinting the last few yards to win the A grade colts' race from team-mate, Geoff Bridgman.

Veteran Hugh Patterson leading a Hastings runner into the second lap of the senior race.

The first three home in the senior race were, from left: R. Wilton (Napier), second, W. White (Hastings), first, and J. Milne (Napier), third.

Rex Stewart (right) duelling it out at the finish to be the third Gisborne runner home in the senior event.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 98 : August 9, 1962

Harrier Champs