Runners Protest, But Selection Confirmed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31923, 26 February 1969, Page 18

Runners Protest, But Selection Confirmed

The decision of the Canterbury athletic selectors (Messrs P. D. Brown, B. Curie and T. Crossen) to choose only eight runners to compete in the New Zealand marathon, which will be held in Christchurch on March 8, was confirmed by the Canterbury Athletic Centre last evening.

The selectors were strongly criticised for limiting the numbers by the road runners’ association and three clubs, St Martins, Cashmere and Christchurch.

Mr B. H. Kerr, the centre president, said that when a letter from the road runners’ association had been discussed with the selectors, they had been unanimous in the selection of eight runners for the marathon and the emergency committee had supported them. In the letter, the secretary

of the road runners’ association (Mr D. Greig) said his organisation wished to lodge a “serious protest”- at the treatment of road runners by the selectors. All those who beat 2hr 50min in the Canterbury marathon might have done well in the New Zealand championship. Five who had bettered this time had been left out after being nominated by the road runners’ selectors.

There was plenty of room on the road for more Canterbury runners in the New Zealand marathon, and a massed field was needed to make the event a spectacle for the public, Mr Greig said. The runners could run in club uniform if the centre felt that they were not

worthy of representing the province. “The selectors were elected at the annual general meeting." said Mr E. Lunn. "The executive should have confidence ip them. We are wasting our time.’’ After agreeing to support the selectors, the centre executive decided that it was not possible for anyone to compete in the marathon in club uniform.

All-weather Track The convener of the allweather track committee (Mr A. W. Kennedy) reported that a special meeting had been held to discuss the Local Authorities Loans Board's decision to defer the Christchurch City Council’s application for a $200,000 loan for the construction of a track at Kerrs Reach.

It had been agreed to approach the council with the view to sending a deputation to the loans board, Mr Kennedy said. A letter on the subject had already been sent to the council. The action of the committee was approved. "It is not a very happy report,” said Mr Kerr. "Twelve months is a long time for consideration of the loan application to be deferred. This delay puts us a long way behind tne rest of the country.-" Invitation.— lt was agreed to send an invitation to the Otago miler, B. Cowan, to compete in an invitation mile event on March 8 at Rugby Park during the New Zealand junior championships. Cowan recently ran a mile in 4min (Msec. R. Tayler (Otago), who won the race in the same time, and K. Ross (Wanganui), the New Zealand half-mile champion, have already been invited.

Money Stolen.— A police constable will be asked to patrol the dressing rooms at Rugby Park during the New Zealand junior championships. Mrs D Jameson reported that money and valuables had been stolen from the dressing rooms last Saturday during an inter-school meeting.