Cross-Country Lesson For N.Z. To Learn

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 15

Cross-Country Lesson For N.Z. To Learn

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

New Zealand must reconsider harrier trial courses if ever it is going to win an international cross-country event, said Mr F. D. Sharp, the manager of the representative team which returned to Auckland by air yesterday.

“It is foolish to run a trial over the course such as was used at CannAn’. inct Cannon s Creek last December, said Mr Sharp.

“We will need a team of ete „ s n w t h ° c t a " I™ “Xin* on tte * ck 1 27 ’ “T he international courses are heW over prepared ground. At Barry, in Wales (where the last international

championship was held), the ground over which the race was conducted was better than New Zealand football fields. “The whole of New Zealand should be proud of the team.

“I was very proud of the manner in which they worked together and built up for their competition. When a team of true cross-country runners, such as they are, compete against a field of world-class six milers and beat all except England, which has never been out of a place in the international, their performance is fantastic.” Mr Sharp said that he would not single out any individual as the team, in his opinion, was the best one ever to leave New Zealand. He paid a tribute to the captaincy of R. P. Welsh, which he described as outstanding.