Humid heat and mud slow S.I. harriers

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33610, 12 August 1974, Page 15

Humid heat and mud slow S.I. harriers

Ihe long-striding Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres representative, K. Ryan (Auckland), raced away with the New Zealand cross-country championship over 12,000 metres at Whangarei on Saturday.

The Auckland runner, D. Sirl, was about 150 metres back in second place. The Commonwealth Games representative, E. Robertson (Otago), was third. One of the favourites for the race, the Wellington International. B. Rose, was fourth. Rvan dropped a closely grouped leading bunch soon after half way, and was never headed. Sirl and Robertson went after him, and the order did not change thereafter. The testing undulating course, including some steep inclines up to 40 metres in height, was slushy — in places to knee depth. Warm heavy rain fell in the middle stages of the race. Runners said the volcanic mud was very sticky, and although nearly everyone taped their shoes several shoes were lost in the mud. It was a race of many surprises. The Christchurch Olympic club’s well-per-formed international, J. R, Sheddan, was the first

Canterbury man home, in seventh place. Sheddan warmly praised the running of his team mate, F. Brookes, who was eighth. “Frank led me most of the way, sometimes by up to 100 metres, and it took a tough fight to catch up.” Sheddan said the race was one of the hardest he had run. Most of the South Island runners found the humid, warm weather difficult, and he felt notably off form on the day. SURPRISE FORM The winner’s performance was also a surprise. Ryan came only third in his own provincial championships and if Rose had shown the form which won him the Skellerup steeples in Christchurch Ryan could not have matched him. As it was Rose had a seesaw battle throughout the race to keep P. Ballinger (W.C. N. 1.) out of fourth place. Canterbury (Sheddan, Brookes, C. Hicks 16, R. Robinson 21, C. Creagh 28, E. Gray 35) gained third placing in the teams race. Other Canterbury placings were P. Riley 37, B. McClelland 38, A. Good 44, B. Rollo 49, M. Couldwell 52, S. McLean 56. Sheddan moved through well in the closing stages to ne only ,4sec behind the sixth place getter. J. Dixon (Wellington). Hrookes showed a continuing pattern of improvement to beat one of the race favourites, H. Healey (Auckland), for eighth. About 70 finished. Two likely contenders for early placings, the Commonwealth Games silver marathon medallist, J. Foster, and his Waikato teammate, T. Sutherland, did not start because of leg injuries. CANTERBURY WINS Canterbury scored a fine win when J. K. Macdonald beat the former Olympic representative, W. D. Baillie (Auckland) by about 200 metres to take the veterans (over-40) championship over 9000 metres. The talented Auckland runner,

R. Chase, last year's title winner, who. like Baillie, is a former national ehampion, was about 300 metres behind Macdonald in third plaee. Macdonald, tlie Canterbury 15,000 metres title-holder, took | the lead with about 6000 metres; to go after Chase fell at a culvert. From then on, he was never headed.

Baillie, running his usual crafty race, had kept close on the heels of Chase in third place, When he went after Macdonald, planning to use his pace in the closing stages, Macdonald’s sustained power proved too much I for him. There was a record number of about 140 starters. The talented Canterbury junior, A. Gavigan, ran well to finish third only 22sec behind the winner, G. Palmer rOtagoi. in the junior championship over 6000 metres. Gavigan’s fine running and that of his Canterbury team mates gave Canterbury a convincing win in the teams event. The winning team was Gavigan, D. Greig and W. Williamson (equal seventh), W. Sheddan (tenth), I. Shatford (twelfth), and P. Wilson (fifteenth). Palmer, winning his third successive title, battled home 14sec ahead of G. Shaw (Auckland), who was second. WOMAN COLLAPSES The 18-year-old Auckland runner, Miss A. Deed, won the 4000 metres women’s championship from her Auckland team mate and defending title-holder. Mrs H. Thomson, by about 15 metres. The Otago runner. Miss L. Moller, remembered in Christchurch for her fine win in the Skellerup steeples, led strongly until the half-way mark. After Miss Deed and Mrs Thomson passed her she became affected by stomach cramp and the humid weather. She collapsed within 400 metres of the finish and received medical attention. Canterbury’s team captain, Miss R. Hames, ran outstandingly to take twelfth placing, beating several good performers, including Miss L. Melchers (Wellington) one of the likely major place-getters. The standard was notably higher than last year. Some of the Canterbury women’s team were handicapped by stomach infections. One of the most promising Canterbury runners, Miss J. Gilling, was too unwell to start. The race was a close one, and the first six finished within 15 sec. , , , Canterbury women* placings were:— R. Hames 12, A. Duncraft 21, A. Bidwell 22, D. Falvey 27, M. O’Reilly 30, K. Rollo 35, J. Giles 40. There were 43 finishers. Results.— K. Ryan (Auckland), 37:20, 1: D. Sirl (Auckland), 37:38, 2; E. Robertson (Otago), 37:50, 3; B. Rose (Wellington), 38:03, 4; P. Ballinger (W.C.-N.1.), 38:05, 5; J. Dixon (Wellington), 38:11, 6; J. Sheddan (Canterbury), 38:15, 7; F. Brookes (Canterbury), 38:26, 8; H. Healy (Auckland), 38:38, 9. Teams race: Auckland 1. Canterbury placings were.— Sheddan 7, Brookes 8. C. Hicks 16: R. Robinson 21. C. Creagh 28, E Gray 35, P. Riley 37, B. McClelland 38, A. Good 44, B. Rollo 49, M. Couldwell 52, S. McLean 56. Veterans (9000 metres).—J. K. Macdonald (Canterbury), 30:29, 1; W. D. Raillie (Auckland), 30:53, 2; R. Chase (Auckland), 31:19, 3; M. Taylor (Nelson), 31:39, 4; N. Calder (Auckland), 31:57. 5; R. Stevens (Canterbury), 32:27, 6. Teams race: Auckland. Juniors (6000 metres).—G. Palmer (Otago). 18:51, 1; G, Shaw (Auckland), 19:05, 2; A. Gavigan (Canterbury), 19:26, 3; A. Clements (Wellington), 19:40, 4; B. Thompson (H.8.-P.8.), 19:55, 5; M. Stevens (Otago), 19:57, 6. Teams race: Canterbury. WOMEN (4000 metres) A. Deed (Auckland). 14:13, 1; H. Thomson (Auckland), 14:15, 2; D. Zorn (H.8.-P.8.), 14:20. 3: B. Shingles (W.C.-N.1.). 14:22, 4; I. Miller (Wellington), 14:26, 5; G. Findlay (W.C.-N.1.), 14:28, 6. Team race: Auckland.