Cross-country titles at Burwood today

Press, 24 July 1976, Page 11

Cross-country titles at Burwood today

Bv

JOHN DREW

Canterbury contenders for places in the New Zealand cross-country team to contest the next world championships will be hoping to take the first step up the ladder to international recognition in the provincial titles at Burwood this afternoon. The reigning champion, Frank Brookes (Technical), and John Sheddan, of the Olympic club, who was a member of the winning New Zealand team in the last world championships, head a formidable field in today’s race. The entry is the strongest, as well as the biggest, to contest this event.

If. as is probable, the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association rides roughshod over the request by the Canterbury centre to hold trials for world championships, today’s race will be seen by Sheddan and Brookes, as well as by the former international, Eddie Gray, of Greymouth, and the highly promising Don Greig, of New Brighton, as a stepping stone for national selection. It seems fairly certain that the Canterbury title will go to one of these four. But so high is' the overall standard of the field that the race promises to be an open one both for the major placings as well as for team honours. Sheddan must be regarded as the favourite on his showing as first man home for Canterbury m the recent Skellerup steeples. But both Sheddan and Brookes are light on race conditioning. Sheddan admitted this in the

Skellerup event and Brookes did not compete because of a virus infection. Gre ; g seems to be improving so rapidly that at If) he could, conceivably, topple the favourites while Gray, back to fighting fitness again, is sure to provide a challenge. Further down the ladder of prowess are numerous

fine athletes who are sure I to make exciting running. I They include Kevin Ham- | ilton (Technical), if he is ' injury free, also Warren | Sheddan (Olympic) and his I team-mate, Kevin Fagan, ! and the powerful Univer- I sity combination headed | by Brian Taylor and Brian ! Kennedy. New Brighton will field ■ a very strong group | against University for ; team honours. Olympic has again called on the services of its two top veteran (over 40) runners, John Macdonald and Ronnie Stevens.

Jim Macdonald. (Olympic), holder of the world veteran record for the steeplechase will be favourite for the veteran title with Don Greig, Clarrie Reece (New Brighton) and Don Cameron (St Martins) in contention for the mmor placings. Jeff Stark (University) and tne New Brighton team of Jeff Parsons, Jim Hill. Mark Cassidy and Geoff O'Brien will be sure to make an exciting race of the junior event. Probably even more attention will focus on the performance of the prominent Peter Renner (Cashmere) in the Under 18 race. The chairman of the cross-country committee, Mr Kevin Jago. has assured competitors that they can expect a testing and varied course for the race.