Joggers increase harrier numbers

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33819, 16 April 1975, Page 12

Joggers increase harrier numbers

The biggest increase in the numbers of runners turning out for the winter road and cross-country season in the history of the sport in Canterbury has been reported by harrier clubs in Christchurch, according to the chairman of the cross-country committee of the Canterbury centre (Mr K. Jago). Several clubs reported that the new members included many joggers, both men and women, who wanted to link up with registered clubs.

Among well established clubs now catering for veteran runners and joggers are New Brighton, St Martins, University. Roves, and Olympic, which also numbers several women — some with families — who are training regularly for road and cross-country running. Mr Jago said this increase was largely due to the combined stimulus of the Commonwealth and New Zealand Games, as well as New Zealand's win in .he recent world crosscountry championships and the success of the recent city-to-surf community jog. Another possibility was the example set by the world veteran 10.000 metres champion, Jack Foster, who recently represented New Zealand at the world cross-country championships at the age of 42. Furthermore, there was a number of new joggers’ c>ubs in the city.

The former Bluff to Cape Reinga record-holder. Don Cameron (St Martins) has been influential in establishing a number of these, including a joggers’ section

of the Cashmere club which meets at the Hillmorton school grounds each Sunday morning. He also led a group of more than 60 joggers at

t'-c naugural outing of the Kaiapoi Joggers' Club at tne Kaiapoi Rugby ground last Sunday morning. Meantime, the Christchurch

Transport Boards’ busmen’s jogging group. which Cameron also helped form, is running regularly and with increasing numbers. The well-established Burnside jogging club also continues to attract new members.

Mr Jago says there are now more than 500 registered runners over 40 taking part regularly in interclub events throughout New Zealand and of these well over 100 are in Canterbury.