Strong competition in N.Z. harrier titles

Press, 14 August 1976, Page 52

Strong competition in N.Z. harrier titles

The New Zealand crosscountry international, John Dixon (Nelson) will have to overcome strong opposition if he is to win his second successive New Zealand harrier championship at Invercargill today. Rivalry will be intense, as the runners regard the race as a talent test for the New Zealand team for the next world championships at Dusseldorf Germany, the New, Zealand Amateur Athletic Association

having decided to dispense with the formal trials. Dixon will be closely challenged by Dave Sir! (Auckland) and John Sheddan (Canterbury), Stuart Melville (Otago), and Paul Ballinger (West Coast-North Island). The latter ran a good second to Dixon in the Skellerup Steeples last month. Competition to catch the selector’s eye will be all the more keen because of doubts about availability of the top members of New Zealand’s winning team at the 1975

world cross-country championships. One of the most determined to challenge for a possible trip to Germany, is the Canterbury champion Don Greig, aged 19—and there are many who think he will come home first for Canterbury today. “There is no doubt it will be a real cut-throat race, with everybody in for a chance to run for New Zealand,” said Greig. Howard Healey (Auckland) and Eddie Gray (Greymouth) are also capable of challenging for leading positions.

The expected winner—on his form at the Olympic Games—the steeplechase runner, Euan Robertson (Otago), is reported to have withdrawn fram today’s race. This leaves Canterbury, with Sheddan, Greig, Brian Kenelley, Gray, and Frank Brookes, well placed to win the senior teams’ race, ahead of Otago. The Canterbury juniors, who include Peter Renner, Andrew Stark, Geoff O’Brien, Steve Parsons, Mark Cassidy, and Martin O’Connor, seem set for a third consecutive

win in the junior teams’ event. Attention will focus on how Renner shapes against the favourite, Jeff Shaw (Auckland). Canterbury seems also assured of high placings in the veterans’ event, with the help of Jim and John Macdonald, Ron Stevens, and Clarrie Reece. Canterbury’s Glenys Quick, Wendy Mollison, Alison Tait, Michelle Hadley, and Maureen O’Reilly will form a strong combination in the women’s event. Such is the strength in

depth of Canterbury distance running that in spite of the many Canterbury athletes competing at Invercargill, the Methodist Harrier Club’s annual inter-club road race from Governor’s Bay to Lyttelton today has attracted record entries of more than 380.

annua! mter-ciub roaa race from Governor’s Bay to Lyttelton today has attracted record entries of more than 380. Colman Creagh (Greymouth) and John Mcßrearty (Ashburton), Alan Warne (University), and Tony Ellis (New Brighton) should be among the main contenders for fastest time in the senior event.