Child athletes fit and enthusiastic

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33783, 4 March 1975, Page 5

Child athletes fit and enthusiastic

The prowess and enthusiasm of young athletes in the Canterbury children’s championships at Queen Elizabeth II Park on the week-end left no doubt that the province has a bright future for athletics.

The young athletes, ranging in age from seven to 13. produced by far the loudest cheering at any Canterbury championships. There were 2124 participants in 253 events.

It was the first time that the annual children’s championships had been held at the park, and numbers were nearly double last year’s.

The meeting was held in conjunction with the inter-club meeting.

In the principal senior interclub race the New Zealand veteran champion and record holder for the steeplechase in the over 40 grade, Jim Macdonald (Olympic), set what is believed to be another New Zealand veteran record for 3000 metres of Bmin 29see.

He beat the well-performed Canterbury representative, T. Ellis (New Brighton), in the prowess after leading most of the way.

This was Macdonald’s best time over this distance for eight years. It came within seven seconds of the world record set by the U.K. runner, Jim O’Hara. At the children’s end of the scale, Gregord Lord, of the New Brighton club, set what is believed to be a New Zealand best time for a boy of 13 for 100 metres—ll 7sec,

Championship points Boys.—Aged 7: M. Smith (Cashmere) 13. 8: L. Pawson (Tech.) 15. 9: D. Peerson (Toe H) 18. 10: S. Wilson and R. Dacre (Papa-nui-Redwood) 13 (equal). 11: P. Pickard (New Brighton) 23 12: N Gudsell (South Canterbury) 21. 13: G. Thompson (Technical) 23.

Girls.—Aged 7: K. Hickey (Temuka) 15. 8: E. Harmsworth (Avon) 13. 9: F. Tonks (Ashburton) 20. 10: C. Tongue (Toe H) 19. 11: J. Wood (New Brighton) 15. 12: A. Toneycliffe (South Canterbury) 25, 13: M. Bain (Ashburton) 23.