Good packing is good harrierism
This comment made in 1933 is as relevant today as it was then. There is no such thing as a harrier club which does not have proper pack runs. In the early days paper chases were common. Trail layers would set off first and then would be chased by the rest of the harriers who ran in packs. A typical paper chase would traverse road, farmland, fences, ditches, swamps and hidden bush tracks, and often blackberries, gorse and "bush lawyers". Paper chases gradually became fewer and fewer in the 1950s.In the 1930s a regular feature of the Club runs was the handicap run-in after the packing exercise. The harriers would cover their five to seven mile courses which were usually a mix of road and country. All would then participate in a handicap run-in. These ranged in distance from 75 yards to 880 yards, with 220 yard and 440 yard distances being very popular.
No run has ever or will ever be cancelled on account of the weather.
This stern edict made early in Calliope's history has always been strictly enforced. Not to do so would be unthinkable. Atrocious conditions were and never will be an excuse. In July 1968 for instance a torrential downpour had caused the cancellation of all other codes. Soaking and bedraggled Calliope runners turned out in large numbers to contest their cross-country Ambler Shield.Some Notable Races
Calliope Harrier Club has been a great organiser of races over the years. It had the honour of holding the first open road races in Auckland over its round Lake Pupuke course. This event was held between 1935 and 1945. The W E Patterson Memorial Trophy Relay race was a major interclub event. Run on a handicap basis it was four laps of about four miles each. Held between 1946 and 1950, it was the precursor of the famous Round the Harbour Relay Race which was initially jointly organised by Calliope and Western Suburbs Harrier Clubs but later largely by Calliope. First held in 1951 it was a huge success and only major traffic problems forced its closure in 1978. There were large entries each year, for example 43 teams in 1972.
There was probably no marathon in the world other than Calliope Harriers' Reidbuilt marathon where the major prize at stake each year was a brand new house. The only small catch was that the house would only be built for any runner who went under two hours! The Calliope winter marathon was first run in 1965. A dramatic increase in numbers in the late 70s made the circuit difficult to manage. Laurie Bassett, never one to take a step backwards, became the first Calliope harrier to finish a marathon with a broken thumb, sustained in an altercation with spectators at the 5k mark during the 1978 Reidbuilt. In 1979 the event was shifted to a course based on Whenuapai airbase and Herald Island . From 1975 to 1981 the race was the Auckland marathon championship and it created a high profile for Calliope, enhancing its deserved reputation as a Club that was a competent organizer and manager of major events.
In 1988 the Birkenhead City Centennial fun run in which there were 600 participants was organised by Calliope Harrier Club. The culmination of the club's successful record as an organiser of large-scale running events was the securing of the right to manage the Hyatt-Kingsgate Half Marathon in 1989. The result was an outstanding success, and Calliope has continued to organise it to the present day. Every year a big effort is put in by all Calliope members and supporters. It is no exaggeration to say that it has been a major success for Calliope, both for forging greater unity within the club and for providing Calliope with financial stability. Some Notable Runners
Like most clubs, Calliope has had its share of top runners. Norm Ambler was the club's first star. In 1936 a 16-year-old "possessed of a long stride and an easy body action" was an easy winner of the Auckland junior cross-country championship at Avondale. That was the first of Norm Ambler's many Auckland titles.Ian Studd's greatest achievement was third place in the 1966 Empire Games held in Jamaica . In running 3m 58.4s he became only the fifth New Zealander to break the four minute mile barrier. He also finished tenth in the three miles in 13m 25.8s.
Calliope Harrier Club's greatest runner was Geoff Shaw. He was announced as a startling find in 1971-72. Coached by Calliope's Jack Ralston, Shaw won every Auckland Centre grade event he entered, usually with ridiculous ease. Shaw was devastating on the track. In 1976 in an under-20 5000 metres he ran 13m 48.5s which was a New Zealand junior record and a world-class time. In 1978 he was struck down by a crippling injury. After a five year lay-off he began a come-back. In 1985 he easily triumphed in the New Zealand senior 16k road championship event, and afterwards was named the best male athlete of the harrier season. In 1986 Shaw ran 13m 30.2s in a 5000 metre time trial in bad conditions in the winter.
In his first race as a veteran, Robert Joy was placed 25th in the colts race at the 1984 Massey cross-country. Joy in reality had made easy work of the veterans' cross-country, finishing well ahead of ace runner Dave Sirl. Of small stature, he was mistaken for a colt. Joy held many road race lap records. Described as a feared competitor in any veteran race, he capped off 1985 by winning first the Auckland veteran road championship and then the New Zealand veteran road race championship.
Tenacious and relentless. Words that well describe Roger Weatherley, a top runner both on the road and over country. His peak years were between the mid-60s and late 70s. By 1974 Weatherley had represented Auckland ten years in a row at harriers. He won the Calliope Reidbuilt Marathon twice, first in 1973 when he recorded his best time of 2h 23m 25s and then in 1975 when it was for the Auckland title.
Calliope is a friendly family oriented Club which caters for all age groups. Right through the year there is road and bush running and walking. Everyone is welcome and everyone is catered for, from the most social of slow walkers through to serious runners and walkers. For those who are interested, athletics meetings are held in the summer and there are cross-country and road races in the harrier season. Wednesday is the main Club day , 6.30 pm the time, and the clubrooms under the grandstand at Birkenhead War Memorial Park is the place to meet. In the summer children are catered for on Mondays with the whole emphasis being on the enjoyable development of motor skills. There is also a good social programme at Calliope with lots of fun activities. Trips away and themed evenings are highlights .