Unfortunate setback

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 11

Unfortunate setback

R. Robinson, one of the most consistent performers in inter-club harriers in Canterbury, has suffered an unfortunate setback to his cross-country running just when he was reaching excellent form. He broke the small toe in his right foot in the Edmond Cup race at Dunedin last week and will miss the Skellerup Steeples, and probably the Canterbury championships as well. His foot is in plaster to the ankle and he does not expect to be walking without the plaster for another two weeks. The Canterbury championships are four weeks away and the Skellerup Steeples, in which the best cross-country runners in the country will compete are on July 12. In his five cross-country runs this season in Christchurch he has twice recorded the fastest time and in the other fhree events, the second fastest time. He broke the last lap record in the Port Hills relay and easily won the 12mile Holloway Memorial race.

He was in the leading bunch at Dunedin in the Edmond Cup race and although the injury was painful he carried on and finished in seventh place.

“At the time of the injury, we were just completing the first lap and I was planning to move past the other runners. They were well within striking' distance, but the injury was so painful that I could only improve my placing to seventh,” he said. “It is a pity that this has happened now because I felt that this season was as good as any I have had. I may be able to run in the Canterbury championships but I will be well behind in training by then. “I am looking forward now to the Takahe-Akaroa race in September,” he raid.

Robinson came to New Zealand last year during the athletic season after considerable success in cross-country running in England. He represented England in the international cross-country in Morocco in 1966.