University wins relay

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33966, 6 October 1975, Page 17

University wins relay

The University of Canterbury team of Kevin O’Sullivan and Paddy Bodger won the Greymouth 15| mile two-man relay' after an exciting and close contest with the Greymouth combination of Colman Creagh and Dan O’Connor on Saturday. University won by only 24 seconds in Ihr 14min 9sec. The Nelson pair, P. Harnett and D. Bossleman (76:09), were third. Ashburton (Cam McLennan and Garry Whiting) (76:40) were fourth, and Richard Hood and Graham Horrell (Ashburton) (78:14) were fifth. The five lap relay has steadily gained popularity in recent years and a record number of 42 teams from Christchurch. Ashburton, Greymouth and Nelson competed.

. Kevin O’Sullivan took the jfirst lap for University followed by Cam McLennan (Ashburton), Peter Harnett I (Nelson), and Colman Creagh ! (Greymouth). Bodger maintained Unijversity’s lead while O’Connor brought Greymouth [through to second and Bosisleman was third for Nelson. On lap 3 Colman Creagh ran outstandingly to take fastest time when he caught up to within only a ' yard of O’Sullivan. O’Con- ' nor matched Bodger stride ‘ for stride on lap 4 until with ‘ about 600 yards, to go Bodger ' fought ahead. He handed on with only seven- seconds to ; spare to O’Sullivan who ran i a fine last lap to clinch Uni--1 versity’s win. i Bodger took the record on . lap 4 in a time of 12min 55sec ■ ‘compared with the previous record held by Eddie Gray of

! 13min 35sec. On this lap ■ Bodger was assisted with a i strong following wind. Cam McLennan broke the i record on lap 5 with a time of 13min 20sec. This bettered . the previous record held , by . Eddie Gray by 12 sec. i The weather,was mild and ■ fine. The powerful West Coast! 1 combination of the two inter-j - nationals, Eddie Gray and - Dave McKenzie, winners of i this event on frequent pre- • vious occasions, did not com- ' pete this year. i J| Japan's economy ' i Japan has recorded a re- • vised balance-of-paymentsj deficit of s26Bm in August,; i compared with a surplus ofi : ss7m in July and a deficit > of ssl3m in August of last; f year. — Tokyo.