Coast Runner Wins In Scotland

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 3

Coast Runner Wins In Scotland

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.PA.) GLASGOW.

The quiet man of the New Zealand team, E. Gray, of Greymouth, on Saturday surprised everyone but himself by winning the 71-mile Scottish cross-country championship at Hamilton Park Raceway, Glasgow.

The race, held in strengthsapping conditions, was an overwhelming success for the 10 man New Zealand team. Of the first seven home, six were in black singlets. New Zealand beat Scotland, by 26 joints to 59

With little more than two miles completed, the 22-year-old Greymouth carpenter attacked from near the front and in no time opened up 100 yards on G. Stewart, a former Scottish 3000 metres steeplechase champion. Gray’s freshness at the finish was as startling as was his time of 38min Bsec, considering that he has never before broken 40 minutes over the international distance of 7} miles. Gray said afterwards that his win was largely attributable to the strength he had acquired since the national selection trial last December. For the first time in his career, Gray began to train twice a day after gaining selection, and on one afternoon in ~the space of three

hours he ran three miles in 13min 51sec and a mile in his personal best of 4min 12sec. Before Saturday’s race, Gray had only one performance of national standard—a second to J. L. Julian in last year’s New Zealand 10-mile road race championship. Such was the skilful packing of the New Zealanders, who will compete in the English championships at Norwich and the international championship at Barry next month, that the team outcome was certain.

The main interest lay in the individual battle between Stewart and Gray. The Scot made the early running but Gray went ahead after two miles and at five miles he was 100 yards in front. Stewart was unable to close

the gap but just managed to get the better of the New Zealander, B. G. Rose, who was third.

At Norwich, Mrs M. Sampson. of Auckland, running against doctor’s orders, finished fifth in the English women’s championship. Because of a tendon injury she has been unable to train for the last week, and to add to her troubles, Mrs Sampson caught a cold. Results of the Scottish championship were:— E. Gray <N.Z ). 38:8, 1; J. L. Stewart (Vale of Leven) 2, B. G. Rose' (N.Z.) 3, B. J. Everitt (N.Z.) 4, N. E. Wyatt (N.Z.) 5 R. P. Welsh (N.Z.) 6. M. Ryan (N.Z.) 7, A. H. Brown (Motherwell) 8. Other New Zealand placings were: L. T. Walker 10, J. L. Julian 11, R. M. Maddaford 17. A. Curtis (Napier Harrier Club —travelling with the 20.