N.Z. Second In Cross-Country

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 3

N.Z. Second In Cross-Country

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) BARRY, (South Wales). The New Zealand team finished second over all and the New Plymouth runner, B. G. Rose, took third place, in the international cross-country championship a t Barry, South Wales, on Saturday.

The teams’ race was won by England, and the Belgian, G. Roelants, captured the individual honours, with the Englishman, T. Johnston, finishing second. In its second attempt in the international championship, New Zealand improved on its previous performance. In 1965, at Brussels, the team finished third and its best individual placing was sixth. Two years ago New Zealand was 55 points behind England; on Saturday it trailed by 37 on the provisional count. But J. Hogan (Eng-

land) was disqualified for twice failing to clear a hurdle, reducing the difference to a mere 13 points. “It was a wonderful performance by the team,” said the New Zealand manager, Mr F. Sharp. “They all ran themselves out.”

The relatively flat course was surprisingly firm in spite of rain late in the week, and this meant that conditions favoured the leading track runners.

The proof of this was contained in the winning run of Roelants, the world 3000 metres steeplechase recordholder. From the start Roelants attacked from the front and when he finally spurted into the lead after four miles, there was never any doubt he would win. Roelants was not content with just winning. Completely relaxed, yet full of power, he remorselessly ran away from the field, to be timed at 36min 3sec for the seven miles and a half. Johnston clocked 36min 20sec, and Rose, 36min 27sec. That sort of pace is something New Zealand crosscountry runners are unaccustomed to. R. P. Welsh, the team captain, probably spoke for his team mates when he said he was going as hard as

he could on that type of track. “But I’m no world-class athlete over six miles,” he added. Welsh improved from sixteenth in 1965 to twelfth, and was again the second New Zealander home. As the field of nearly 100 raced out from the start only Welsh looked to be up with the leaders. Most of the other 'New Zealanders showed up towards the rear and they seemed at that stage to have lost contact badly. But with one mile and a half gone, the outlook was much brighter. Rose led the New Zealand assault in fourteenth place, followed by Welsh, E. Gray, M. Ryan, N. Wyatt and C. G. Wheeler, all in the first 30. Of the other three, B. J. Everitt was beginning to move forward, J. L. Julian appeared to be labouring, and R. M. Maddaford, after endeavouring to stay with the pace, was losing ground. As Roelants reached four miles in 19min llsec, the New Zealand pattern was practically established. Rose and Welsh were clear of the next bunch of Gray, Ryan, Julian, Wyatt and Everitt, whose placings were repeatedly changing though not enough

to give New Zealand much hope of challenging England for the teams’ title.

With just over two miles remaining, a grimly-deter-mined Rose went into third place, behind Roelants, and Johnston. Then came Hogan, G. Texerau (France), J. M. Haiz (Spain),' W. Olivier (South Africa) and Welsh. Although Welsh slipped back slightly, Rose continued to flog his tired-looking frame through a bitterly cold and strong wind. On reaching the line, he threw his arms into the air and a look of total satisfaction spread over his face as he turned to see J. L. Stewart (Scotland), who had edged him out of second place in both the Scottish and English championships, coming in 20 yards back, in fourth place, 36min 30sec. Olivier was fifth, 36min 32 sec, and Maiz, sixth, 36min 33sec. t The placings and times of the New Zealand team were:

Rose, 36.27, 3; Welsh, 36.49, 12; Gray, 37.7, 17; Ryan, 37.12, 19; Julian, 37.14, 21: Wyatt, 37.20, 24; Everitt, 37.25, 25; Wheeler, 37.40, 31; Maddaford, 37.46, 37. The teams’ championship resulted: England, 83 points, 1; New Zealand, 96, 2; France, 122, 3; South Africa, 151, 4; Scotland, 228, 5; Belgium, 245, 6.