SPORTSMAN OF THE WEEK

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27047, 23 May 1953, Page 9

SPORTSMAN OF THE WEEK

M. R. CRAIGHEAD

Murray Craighead, with a wealth of experience in track and cross-country work considers running an all-round-the-year sport, and though there must be the easing-up period if a man is to keep properly fit one sport helps the other and both can be of immense value to those who take an Active part in other games. The sprinters who cut out the hundred in 10 seconds and the milers who hope to break four minutes some day when the tracks are like lightning find cross-country running in the winter time a big help in keeping the wind clean and the body in condition for preparation for trials of speed. The

man who plays' cricket in summer will find cross-country running with a good pack enjoyable, and he will also find when he takes the bat or ball in his hand after a few runs on the wide open spaces that he has a flying start on the others. The footballer, used to heavy grounds and hard, rugged play may derive great benefit from a brightening-up process on the running track among the sprinters or distance men, while field events like shot-put-ting or throwing the hammer loosen up the muscles and add strength for any serious exercise. Although trackrunners favour ground that has been well-dried and levelled, the harrier cares not one iota about the type of country he takes on and rain, hail or snow is not a good enough excuse to postpone or cancel a meet.

Cross-country running offers wonderful opportunities for men who wish to keep fit and are not robust enough to tackle the more rugged team games that occupy the sports stage during the winter and there is no reason why anyone should be deterred from running because of an inferiority complex. At almost every meet the runners are graded into slow, intermediate and, fast packs and there are equal chances for the accomplished harrier or the slow plodder, while often it will be found that one of the club champions will be racing with the slow pack, possibly because he has done enough fast work and does not wish to exert himself, but probably for the purpose of giving the slow-coaches a few hints on how to speed up their running. Above all there is the social side of the sport and much of this is provided by the hosts who on one Saturday in the year make their homes meeting places for the runners, who, after splashing through muddy paddocks and roads, have the usual talk hnd, like men in all other sports, always play the best game an hour after it has finished.

Murray Craighead has had much enjoyment on the running track and with its associations, and is still a force to be reckoned with in any race from a mile on the track to six or seven miles across country. He served a hard apprenticeship. While he merely played at cricket and football when a pupil at the Papanui School, and was an also ran at the Primary Schools’ sports, he later went to Boys’ High School, one of the greatest nurseries for athletes in New Zealand. Yet in his first two years at School he took no active part in athletics and just played a bit at football, cricket and tennis. His first appearance in the blue and black colours was in 1940, when he started in the mile in the annual competition held between Timaru and Christchurch high schools. He was not encouraged jo think himself a champion when he finished fifth in a field of six, although there appeared to be some hope for him when he finished second to Wally Wilkinson in the 880 yards and mile at the annual school sports in 1941. Good Performances

In the following year he was again runner-up to the school champion in both races after Wilkinson had been forced to do 2min 5 3-ssec for the half-mile, a school record at that time. Later in the same year at the InterSecondary Schools’ sports Craighead won the half-mile in 2min 2 3-ssec, and was second in the mile to Jim Oakley, of Christchurch Technical College. In 1943 Craighead won the Boys’ High School 880 yards in 2min 2 l-ssec, and the mile in 4min 28 l-ssec, both records for the school. The writer well remembers these performers at a time when Boys’ High School had some of the finest young athletes ever to compete in New Zealand, the number including Dave Batten, Ken Taylor, Murray Dawson and John Pearson, with another great young runner in Alan Dockery in the juniors. Craighead also won the cross-country championship, and again took the halfmile and mile at the Secondary Schools’ sports. At this time Boys’ High School had a big team of runners competing at Rugby Park, and won the Canterbury junior championship and finished second in the Metropolitan Services Championship. In 1944 and 1945 Murray Craighead was in the Air Force at Whenuapai as a physical instructor, where he trained with his old friend Jim Dalj and scored some minor successes. When still at school in 1943 he helped to form the Crichtpn Cobbers’ Athletic Club, which has since become a force to be reckoned with in all branches of sport. In the same band of pioneers Ken Taylor,' Allan Cochrane, and Geoff Robertson all played a major part in the formation of the new club. For two years after he left the Air Force Craighead had few chances to take part in his favourite sport, and it was not until 1947, when he joined ithe Canterbury University College

Club, that he again took sport seriously, and at this time he had with him Johnny Millar, Dave Batten, and a number of youths he had raced against at school. At university he won the mile and three miles in successive years besides winning a number of other races. To his long; list of successes he added the Canterbury mile and three miles championship, besides club events in 1949, and last year he won the New Zealand Universities' cross-country championship. He has been a member of three out of the four Canterbury University teams to win the Lovelock relay race held at Dunedin each year, the latest event being decided two weeks ago. Secretary in turn of the Crichton Cobbers and University Clubs, and always taking a fair share of administration work, he has done much for athletics in Canterbury, and today is no less keen than he was years ago. "There is a spirit in athletics that may be missing in some other sports, and no matter what club or colour, all seem to work amicably together for the good of each other and for the game itself. To see J. Daly (Marist), 1. Ogle (Anglican), P. May (University), K. Williams (Crichton Cobbers), and Ferg Jarvis all in solemn conference trying to work out the difficulties of other fellows, does the heart good and shows the good fellowship that exists amongst athletes in Canterbury .at least,” sajd Murray Craighead. . . ', ,