FAVOURITE BEATEN IN ROAD RELAY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30231, 9 September 1963, Page 7

FAVOURITE BEATEN IN ROAD RELAY

Christchurch beat the favoured Olympic club in the annual 48.5 mile classic of road relays for harriers, the TakaheAkaroa race on'Saturday. Although the winner’s time of 4hr 20min 43sec did not rival the record, 4hr llmin 56sec, set by the Lyndale (Auckland) club in 1960 when the race was open to the whole of New Zealand in 1960, there was plenty of drama in the place switching among the

four top A grade teams. Christchurch held the lead in six of the eight stages, but interest was sustained to the finish. Barring accidents Christchurch was in no danger of losing its hard-won advantage in the final lap, but the next three teams exchanged piaces again. The Christchurch success ended a succession of seven wins by powerful Olympic teams. Every Christchurch man contributed a sound effort to his team’s success. It was not until the sixth lap that Christchurch gained its vital break with a former Olympic' runner, C. F. Reece, revelling through the gruelling four mile and a half climb from Cospp Town to Hill Top, 1533 feet above sea level. The only club which took the lead from the winners was a greatly improved Technical squad which had much to thank its young juniors for. Although it was on the fourth and fifth laps that Technical set the pace it was largely through a brilliant run by the national threemile junior champion, M. Jones, on the third section that A. Evans was favourably placed to snatch the lead on the next. In spite of another fine run by R. Reekie, also a junior, on the fifth stage. Technical was unable <to press its advantage sufficiently for established firm superiority before the crucial uphill sixth lap. Technical had to give way both to Olympic and Greymouth over the final run to the finish at the Akaroa domain. A most Impressive showing was made by a much-improved Greymouth combination which was rewarded with third place in its first attempt at the A grade and for good measure won the Tuhuru trophy, which it had given some years ago for the declared handicap run in conjunction with the scratch contest. Anglican won the B grade after leading in this division all the way. Results:— A Grade Christchurch No. 1 (J. Power. W. K. Kennedy. C. McFadden, M. Smith. A. Dyer, C. F. Reece, R. F. Perry M. C. Fleming), 4:20:43. 1; Olympic (T. Preece, S Payne, W. L. Hobbs. G. T. Wilson, D. Reece G. Edwards, K. Richards, J. D. Macdonald), 4:22:47 2; Greymouth (C. E. McDonnell, E. M. Gray, D. M. Taylor, J. Hamilton G. Howarth, V. Van Rooy, J. L. Taylor D. C. McKenzie). 4:24:00, 3; Technical (P. Watts, S. Gawler, M. Jones. A. Evans, D. Riekie, R. McStay. P. Coughlan A. Richards). 4:25:14, 4; Marist. 4:37:24, 5; University. 4:39:53, 6; Christchurch No. 2, 4:45:13, 7. B Grade Anglican (W. Terris, J. Stuart, J. Robb A. Bayard. C. Ogle, M. Phillips, R. Lloyd. T. Bennett), 4:38:24, 1; Presbyterian (D. Fisher. E. Davey, A. T. Candy, R. Lucock, D. Lavender, G. Smith, W. Graham. R. Allen), 4:39:23. 2; Ashburton (D. Chadderton, N. Brown, J. Carter, H. Smith. B. Welch, B. Stephen J. Mcßrearty, R. Hood), 4:49:52.' 3; Rover Scouts 4; Shdoey 5; Methodist 6. C Grade Christchurch No. 3 (W. Morgan. D. Good, J. Collie. N. Matson, B. Columbus W. A. Kennedy, J. Percy. B. Mogridge), 4:53:17. 1; Toe H No. 1 (R. Inden, R. Jones, D. Joyce M. Price, W. Harbison, S. McLean, M. Pash, B. Thomas), 4:55:20 2; Marist No. 2, 5:02:06, 3; University 4; Technical 5 Christchurch No. 4 6.

Declared Handicap Greymouth No. 1, handicap 10 min; net time, 4:10:00 1; Technical No. 1. lOmln, 4:15:14, 2; Chrischurch No. 1 4min, 4:16:43, 3.