Thrilling track meeting

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 14

Thrilling track meeting

Christchurch’s first winter season inter-club track relax meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday turned out a triumph for the Canterbury 7 cross-country committee.

It was the most successful track meeting held at the park since the Commonwealth Games and seems certain to become an annual event. The athletes obviously responded to the stimulus of the excellent racing surface and general environment. Most of them performed above themselves, considering the time of year. A pattern of explosive pace and enthusiasm pervaded nearly every event. There were bigger entries and more people in the stand than at most of the Canterbury centre’s summer weekly track meetings and not one event failed to grip the attention of the crowd.

New Brighton dominated the major placings with 10 wins, three seconds and two thirds.

Olympic paid for its sportsmanship in splitting its best runners into under 30 and over 30 teams. It cost the club at least one place. In the major event of the day, the senior 5 x 1600 metres relay, a magnificent first lap battle in which J. R. Sheddan (Olympic) narrowly defeated his fellow international P. Watson (Methodist) showed that world record times are not required to make a race of gripping excitement. Fine laps by M. Cauldwell and R. Robinson put University in contention in the middle stages But New Brighton’s magnificent team running with fine lans bv G. Wilby. M. Radcliffe and R. Sharpe gave New Brighton a win by Bsec. Just as dramatic was the veterans’ tussle when C. Reece (New Brighton) beat R. Stevens (Olymnic) in the first lap nf the 3 x 1200 m, over-40 race. W. McLeod ran in the manner of a champion to increase New Brighton’s lead. In snite of a busting last run bv W. Terris P. May ran a solendid lap to greatly reduce New Brighton’s lead and; make University second. EXCITING RACE

Veterans also nroduced one of the most excit’n" races of the day in the 800 m three-man steeplechase relay. After R. Stevens gained a large lead in the first tan for Olymoic. W. Me-, •T end and W. Terris nulled H]ym oic back and a brave last lap by W. p oHo clinched New Brighton’s win. Among the New Brighton runners who doTnina* o d the women’s events was J. Giving, who gave *he most outstanding dlsplav in both pare and hurdling ability in +he 800 m steeniecbase Tho meeting was notable for +hp first women’s track steeplechase and also for the first vef. '■ran women’s track race in New Ze’’lard. D. Mav a former Cat»+o»-bnrv snrfnt chamnion dominated f he woman’s Rfinrn enlv four mAnbi? of training the presentable time of 2min 56sec.

FAMILY GROUPS More than 400 athletes ayed from iinde»- 13 to over 60 tnnk nart. including a number nf fam<lv «*rnups Amongst these were ° Mav. +he former f erh»iry mPe champion, his wife d V«v. and fhe«r two sons. W. Bolin who had two sons and a daughter racing C Reooe and a daughter and W, 'l'err’s and two sons ap ran for New Brighton. Results: Men Senior 5 x 1600 m flat race.— New Brighton (G. Rollo R. Sharne, G. Wilhv. M. Radcliffe. W. Swords) 21:56. 1: University (A. Warne, R. Robinson. M. Cauldwell, G. Clarke. K. O’Sullivan) 22-04. 2: Olympic 3. Senior steeplechase <5 x 800 m). —New Brighton (R. Mclntosh. I. Kaye. A. Marriott. M. McGart.v. G. Rollo) 12:06. t; United 12:21. 2; Olympic 12:38. 3. Veterans 3 x 1200 m flat race — New Brighton (C. Reece, W. Mc-

Leod, W. Terris) 10:40, 1; University A 10:43. 2; Olympic 11:33, 3. 1 Veterans’ steeplechase 3 x 800m.—New Brighton (W. McLeod. W. Terris, W. Rollo) 8:0. I; Olympic 8:05. 2; Olympic 8:08. 3. Junior and under 17 3 x 800 m steeplechase.—New Brighton (A. I McLaren. S. Parsons. S. Terris.: J. O’Brien) 10:12. 1; New Brighton i B 10:32. 2; C.B.H.S. 10:33, 3. Junior and under 17 4 x 1200 m: flat race.—New Brighton (C.‘ Rogers. D. Greig, A McLaren, S. Parson) 13:28. 1: C.B.H.S. 13:39. 2; Olympic A 14:28. 3. Under 15 3 x 1200 m flat race.—. C.B.H.S. (D. Osbourne. K. Mitchell. S. Genet' 11:16. 1; Toe H 11:40. 2; Olympic 11:42. 3. Under 13 3 X 800 m flat race.--

Olympic 'B. J. MacDonald. P MacDonald. V. Van dec Werf 8:14. 1; Baptist 8:15. 2. Presby terian 8:29. 3. Women Seniors and under 17 1200 n steeplechase.—J. Gilling -N.H 4:06. 1; A. Duncraft »N. 8. 4:10 2; K. Rollo (N. 8. 4:14. 3. Veteran and pre-veteran 800 m —D. May (University) 2:56, 1, A Horsnell (United', 2:59. 2. P Basire (United'. 3:02. 3 Under 15 3 x 800m.—New Brigh ton A (J. Nolan. G. Chettleburgh M. O’Reilly) 7:35. I; New Brighter C 8:03. 2; United 8:06, 3, Under 13 (3 x 400m).—Neu Brighton A J. Wood, D. Smith B. Gillard' 3:26. 1; Pioneer 3:31. 2 New Brighton 3:38. 3.