N.Z. HARRIER TITLES Brilliant Front Run By R. M. Maddaford

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31755, 12 August 1968, Page 22

N.Z. HARRIER TITLES Brilliant Front Run By R. M. Maddaford

(New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA. The Olympic Games runners, R. M. Maddaford (Auckland) and M. R. Ryan (Waikato), who will leave for Mexico next month, showed their fitness by taking first and third places in the New Zealand cross-country championship over seven miles and a half, at Rotorua on Saturday.

In a brilliant run on a fast course, the 22-year-old Maddaford positively dominated the race. He shared the lead with Canterbury’s E. M. Gray, who finished second, until about a mile and a half from the finish, when he shot away like a rocket down a long, downhill run.

At the finish, Maddaford was running easily, and had a good 120yds lead on Gray.

Maddaford showed his ability both on the hills and along the flat. His performance was a most satisfactory trial for Mexico—where he will compete in the 10,000 metres. Ryan, one of the leaders in

the first of the three 2j-mile laps, can be well pleased with his run for third. He allowed himself to drift in the middle stages, running in sixth place, before putting in a sustained run in the last lap to take third place from B. Everitt (Wellington) and J. L. Julian (Auckland). Everitt’s run for fourth was a major surprise. All this season, he has followed home his Wellington team-mate, B. G. Rose, who was sixth on Saturday. Rose put in a spectacular burst in the first lap to move up several places into fourth position, but could not keep it' up. The disappointment of the race was Julian. Although he was in the leading bunch in the first mile, he fell away, and remained in fifth place to the finish. He never really looked like catching the leaders. Auckland runners took the teams’ event with Maddaford, Julian, K. Harvey (ninth), and G. Somerville (fifteenth). Waikato, the title-holder, was second, and West Coast, North Island third. Juniors and Women Wellington runners dominated the junior race of three miles and threequarters, taking first, second, fourth, and ninth places. W. Waters, last year’s run-ner-up, took the title. Second was R. Dixon, and fourth R. Sowman. M. Simmonds (Waikato) was third, and J. Sheddan (Canterbury) fifth. D. Patchett was the Wellington man in ninth place. Waters led all the way, and was a comfortable winner. Simmonds made a strong challenge for second place, but could not keep up the pressure and was third. No-one was more surprised in the two-mile women’s race than the winner, Mrs M. A. Sampson, aged 35, who regained the title she held in 1966. Mrs Sampson admitted she had trained only twice a week—but had kept fit with indoor basketball.

She beat the title-holder, Mrs V. Robinson (Waikato), who sometimes trains twice a day, by 60 yards. The Canterbury champion, Miss C. Russell, was third. The graceful Mrs Sampson took the lead early, and was never in any danger of defeat. The strength of the Canterbury runners, who took the teams’ race with 22 points—and filled four of the first eight places—was another feature of the race. Senior Men R. M. Maddaford (Auckland), 38:24 1; E. M. Gray (Canterbury), 38:39. 2; M. R. Ryan (Waikato), 38:45, 3; B. Everitt (Wellington), 39:02, 4; J. L. Julian (Auckland), 39:19, 5; B. G. Rose (Wellington). 39:26, 6. Teams’ race: Auckland, 30 points. 1; Waikato, 42, 2; West Coast North Island, 54, 3. Junior Men W. Waters (Wellington), 19:10, 1; R. Dixon (Wellington), 19:24, 2; M. Simmonds (Waikato), 19:29, 3; R. Sowman (Wellington), 19:35, 4; J. Sheddan (Canterbury), 20:10, 5; I. Soloman (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay), 20:14. 6. Teams’ race: Wellington, 16 points 1; Auckland, 45, 2; Waikato, 54. 3. Women M. Sampson (Auckland), 11:53, 1; V. Robinson (Waikato), 12:00, 2; C. Russell (Canterbury), 12:11, 3; K. McHugh (Wellington), 12:13, 4; D. Dixey (Canterbury), 12:21, 5; L. Fisher (Canterbury), 12:22, 6. Teams’ race: Canterbury, 22 points. 1; Waikato, 33, 2; Auck land, 39 3. Canterbury Placings Other individual and team placings of the Canterbury teams were: Senior: J. T. Power (Timaru), 13; K. Hamilton (Technical), 20; R. Sharpe (St Martins), 23; M. Clarkson (Methodist), 24; W. K. Kennedy (Christchurch), 40; C. Creagh (Greymouth), 49; G. Clarke (Olympic) 50. Team result: Fourth. Junior: J. Tomlinson (New Brighton), 14; J. Shirtcliff e (New Brighton), 23; G. Rollo (New Brighton) 27; D. O’Connor (Greymouth), 33; P. Watson (Methodist), 39; C. King (St Martins), 43; R. Kennedy (Christchurch), 57. Team result: Fifth. Women: J. Horton (Ladies’ Pioneer), 8; A. Kennedy (Ladies’ Pioneer), 11; A. Tait (Ladies’ Pioneer), 13; R. Williams (Ladies’ Pioneer) 26; K. Williams (Ladies’ Pioneer). 35. Team result: First.