Dixon loses shoe in debut for Univ.

Press, 13 June 1977, Page 19

Dixon loses shoe in debut for Univ.

The international track star,| Rod Dixon, made his first appearance this >ear in open crosscountry competition in Canterbury when he ran for University in tnc Anglican Block relay at Spencer Park on Saturday Hr shoved that he was in good form b\ taking second fast rst time of 20min 30sec over' the 6.4 km *4 mile* course. which; was treacherously slippery in; places, then sandy, and fast in' the last 2km John Sheddan (Olympic), made ; It. thiee open race wins in al: row by beating Dixon by llsec. Dixon was reported to have lost valuable seconds when his shoe came off in the sludge. As the race was in relay form, some of the faster runners had passing slower runners) on the narrower stretches. The event was run on handicap. and the first five-man team across the line was CashmereHilmorton C (D. Broston, P. O'Connor, D. Armishaw, P. O’Connell, and J. May) in 155 min. 28sec. followed by Toe H C in 156:36 and Olympic A. which came through the field of 75 teams from its starting position one minute and a half in front of the scratch team University New Brighton fielded a team well below strength, though there was a pleasing return to competition of former top runncr. Wallv Swords. Mel Radcliffe • New Brighton) chose not to race, but ran round the course in training. Colin Hicks fToc H), ; whom many thought had ended his running days with back 1 trouble.* returned a creditable 22min 56sec in his first crosscountry race of the season. As expected. University A won 1 the women’s relay of four laps of 4km <2J miles*, but its top runner. Alison Tait, was surprisingly beaten on time by B. Wyber *New Brighton). New ' Brighton might have won the i womens relay if it had concen- :

, prated its strength in the top team Wyber actually ran io? the club's c team, as did M. Hadlee, who ran the fourth fastest time. M. Blanch (Cashmere) beat all the under-16s in the colts race aitnough he was in the under-14 age group. Results: — Men’s.—Finishing order: Cashmere Hillmorton C J, Toe H C •2. Olympic A 3. Rover E 4. Olympic B 5, Technical A 6. University A 7. ' Fastest teams: University A. ' lO7min Isec. 1; Olympic A 108:45. 2; University B, 112:15. 3; Christ!church A. 114:37, 4; Olympic B, 116.51. 5: New Brighton D, 117.04, 6; Toe H A 7 Fastest laps (individual): J Sheddan 20:lt>, 1; »». jJixuh, zo:3u, 2: Doug Brown (Univ.) 20:55, 3; j\s. Sheddan (Olympic). 21.01, 4; A. Gavigan (United). 21:07. 5; T. Birnie *Timaru). 21.11. 6; M. Couldwell (Univ.*. 21:34, 7; G. Merchant (Univ.), 21:42, 8; G. Donaldson (Christchurch), 21:54, 9; D. Rowell (Univ.), 22:00, 10; B. Rattray (Christchurch), 22:11, 11; O. Hesp (Univ.), 22:12, 12; B. Burns (Olvmpic) and T. Good (New Brighton) 22:20. equal 13; J Van der Kolk (Tech.), 22.28, 15; J. K. McDonald (Olympic), 22:30, 16; G. Clarke (Olympic), 22.3*. 17: A. Warne (Univ.), and I. Milne (St Martins), 22.39, equal 18; \. Reid (Olympic), 22:41, 20. Women's relay.—Finishing order: University A, 116.42, 1; Olympic A, 117.52, 2; Toe H A, 119:04. 3; New Brighton A, 119.12, 4; University B, 120.57, 5; Olympic B. 122:20, 6. Fastest teams: Univ. A (M. O'Connor. A. Wilson. I*. Sommerville. A. Tait), 94.12. 1; Olympic A (C. Sheddan, C. Leathwuck, R Miles. J. Merrifield), 98.52, 2: Toe H. A 3; New Brighton A, 4; New Brighton B. 5; New Brighton C, 6.

Women's individual fastest times: B. Wyber, 21:20. 1; A. Tait. 22:48. -2; M. O’Connor lUniv.i. 23:16, 3: M. Hadlee (New Brighton C>. 23:19, 4: E. Baker

(New Brighton A*. 23:30, 5; A. Wilson (Univ.). 23:35, 6. Scratch races, colts and girls (4kin or 2\ miles). — Boys.—Under 18: B. Mart CTe Kuta), 19:40. 1: G. Hardy (Univ.), 20:11. 2; A. Lawrence (Te Kura), 20:31, 3: D. Burgh (United), 20:3-5, 4; S. Brown (Avon). 20:45. 5; H.’ Riaeh (Te Kura), 20:51, 6. Teams, Te Kura, 1. Under 16: C. Chittock (Cashmere), 21:49. 1: M. Dodge (Anglican). 21:51, 2; C. Brown (Toe H), 22:04, 3; R. Watt (Methodist). 22:06, 4: L Bartrum (Cashmere). 22:10, 5; P. MacDonald (Olympic), 22:24, 6. Teams. Toe H. 1. Under 14: M. Blanch (’Cashmere), 21:34. 1: M. Marquet (St Martins). 23:12. 2; D. Drummond (Toe H). 23:26, 3; S. Summers (Christchurch), 24:13, 4; J. Pheloung (United), 24:17, 5; J. Wright (United), 24:29, 6. Teams, United 1. Girls.—Under 18: W. Mollison (Univ.), 23:33. k Under 16 (first six places all Avon): L. Hunt. 24:00, 1; D. Tipper, 25:11. 2; J. Simpson, 25:29, 3; L. Tipper. 25:52, 4; K. Everest, 26:49, 5; K. Hockley, 27:33 , 6. Under 14: I. Imms (Cashmere), 25.40, 1; V. Richards (Ladies Pioneer), 25:41, 2; V. Williams (Avon), 26:17, 3; T. Campbell (Chch), 26:23, 4; D. Robinson (Ladies Pioneer). 28:03 , 5; F. Mahon (Chch*, 28:32, 6. Teams, Christchurch, 1.