Sheddan favoured for road title

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33032, 27 September 1972, Page 12

Sheddan favoured for road title

The New Zealand international crosscountry representative, J. Sheddan (Olympic), is the obvious favourite for the Canterbury 15,000 metres road race championship at Lincoln next Saturday. Placed second in last year’s race, Sheddan should nave a fairly easy victory in the absence of last year’s winner, E. M. Gray. Neither Gray nor his Greymouth club-mate, the Olympic marathon representative, D. C. McKenzie, have entered. However, there should be close competition for second place among such runners as R. Robinson (University), who recorded the fastest time in the 10-mile Kaiapoi to Christchurch race, and S. McLean (St Martins), who was only 54sec slower than Sheddan

on the second lap in the Akaroa relay. F. Brookes (Technical), M. Couldwell (Presbyterian), who was second fastest in the Kaiapoi event, D. Patchett (University), G. Rollo (New Brighton), C. Creagh (Greymouth), R. Yardley (Olympic) and R. Merrifield (Olympic) are also capable of a bold show* ing. The Olympic club, which usually provides the main competition in this race, is not so strongly represented this year, mainly because several of their leading runners have had too much hard racing in the latter half of this season. With reduced entries from Olympic and two of New Brighton’s strongest runners, R. Sharpe and B. Rollo, not entered, University appears to have the best prospects for the teams’ event. A veterans’ (over 40) race, introduced for the first

time this year and to be run in conjunction with the senior event, has attracted good entries. The block course, starting outside the Lincoln College gates, should provide excellent conditions for spectators wishing to follow the race.