How the XC Champs have evolved

I began running for Hamilton Harriers in 1955. When I ran in the Club XC Champs up to 1968 (When I moved Overseas), these were held over a course that started & finished at the Te Rapa Racecourse finish Line, and involved areas of what is now Minogue Park, the Retirement Village & Industrial Property.

The Seniors Race was 12.5k, run over 4 laps, which included about 40 high fences or gates to vault. (I think Bryan Mayall will confirm that these ” were monsters” which we had to clamber over.)

I won the Senior XC Champs in 1966, when it was a very muddy course run in torrential rain, which enabled a “Mudlark” like me to head home the favourite, Colin Morris. The weather & conditions were so bad, that I still remember sliding down one of the hills each lap & hitting the fence at the bottom, despite wearing extra long spikes in my shoes.

I then finished runner-up to Dick Quax in 1968, and to Paul Tasker in 1967.

After I returned from overseas, I remember that the Club XC Champs was held a number of times on a course run around the Porritt Stadium area before it moved to Minogue Park.

By David Trow