4000 run for fun as ‘Press’ field more than doubles

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 27

4000 run for fun as ‘Press’ field more than doubles

A colourful crowd of more than 4000 runners of all ages thronged Colombo Street when “The Press” Park-to-Park fun-run set o f from Sydenham Park yesterday morning. The run has proved to be the fastest-growing community ’ :n-run in New Zealand. Entries were more than double those of last year, and almost every sport in Canterbury was represented. Maurice Ryan, the Canterbury cricket captain, ran with Brian Hastings, the former New Zealand cricket representative. And, like many other leading sportsmen, they did not use the run as a race, but helped newcomers to encourage them into the sport. Experienced athletes — such as Kevin Barnes, the Canterbury marathon representative who was first to finish — used the run as a “community cruise” and a warmup for the big Sedley Wells winter marathon on June 5. One of the big excitements of the run was when the great New Zealand Olympic runner, Rod Dixon, arrived. He was given a cheer when he joined the throng up Colombo Street and down to Miltc Street on the way to both North Hagley Park and South HagJey Park and back to the finish. It was above all a family event: fathers ran with sons, husbands ran with wives, and sports teams, workmates, and classmates ran together. An incentive which increased the popularity of the event was Air New Zealand’s offer. All finishers were able to participate in A N Z.’s offer of a chance to win a free trip to Sydney for the big City-to-Surf run there next August. The winner was a young Christchurch lawyer who is a member of the University Club, John Smart. John has a 10-day-old baby, and when he went ho. ie to have a shower he found that all the hot water had been used in washing the nappies. He came back to a hilarious reception at the Sydenham Rugby Club, at which the originators of the run, the Rotary Club of Christchurch South, entertained the organisers of the run, “The Press’ organising committee. John Smart is an old friend uf another University of Canterbury Club member, John Smart (no relation), the noted Canterbury cross-

country running adminis-; trator. In thanking Air New' Zealand’s representative, 1 who presented him with his tickets for two to Sydney, he recalled that the Smarts had met on a number of t amping trips over the last few years. John Smart — the winner .— was not present when the i barrel was sealed and rolled and the lucky card drawn by I the president of the Air New 'Zealand Joggers’ Club, Mr Tony Saville. He was on his; way home after completing 'the course. i The winner said that the fun-runs had brought him back into the sport, as it had many other fun-runners, and “without them. I [wouldn’t be a runner now.” ; The most likely company [ion for John on his trip to, Sydney will be his wife,! Judith. Sydenham Park was like a fair ground. From 8 la.m. until the start at 9.30 ;a.m. when the Mayor (Mt| [Hay) sent the field away,' ! runners in brightly coloured) ! club uniforms crowded in from all directions and cars! were parked in all nearby! roads. The weather was: brilliantly fine. The highlight 'was when the announcer for the Rotary Club of South Christchurch, Mr Courtney Cooper, called thousands of runners together to see the! winning number drawn. The man with the biggest cheer for finishing the course was Eric Sharp, who was 88 on January 25. He was accompanied all the way by George Currie, secretary of the United Harrier Club. Eric improved his time over last year’s performance in the same event to complete the distance in 90 min-j utes. After a mile of the course, roller-skaters were far ahead of the runners, but the runners caught up later, and when they set off down Park Terrace they packed the road in a kaleidescope of! colour. , Even those who did not! ibelong to registered clubs' [turned out in their best! gear. ! Eric Sharp wore a special 'top given by Lane, Walker,! Rudkin, and was also given a smart pair of running shorts by the same firm. He quipped: “I usually wear my Boer War shorts in these runs.” The organisers were loud I in their praise of Ministry 'of Transport officers who.

gave friendly supervision, and when Eric Sharp, who was by no means last, came to the main intersections, traffic was held up and motorists waved encouragement. Rod Dixon continued after the run to complete his training schedule of 32km around the Port Hills. Among the notable participants was the captain of the Canterbury Paraplegic Basketball team, Roily Crighton, :in his wheelchair; the winner of the 1978 Brighton Pier 80km race, Merv Aus-* tin; Major Albie Kiwi and his dog, Freefall, fresh from their run from Bluff to Cape Reinga; the chairman of the New Zealand Long Distance i Runners’ Club, Don Cameron; and the Commonwealth Games representative walker, Graham Scatter. Don Cameron brought a big contingent of runners from the Long Distance [Runners’ Club. They stayed back to encourage and chat (with newcomers. Another big group came from Cust, the leader of [which was Bruce Smith, a [former Canterbury marathon runner, who is farming there. Bruce will have a big run at Cust on June 4 to promote the Centennial Hall there, and he invited all runners in yesterday’s event to [take part. A surprise entry from Wellington was Virginia Green, of the Wellington Scottish Harrier Club. She had seen publicity in “The Press” about the run and started her holiday in the South Island earlier than planned so that she could take part. One of the best performlances was by Ron Falking[ham. He was one of many 'who ran last year’s Park-to-Park and through it joined a cluti. Ron is a former New Zealand marathon skating representative who had been out [of the sport for 10 years. He [has now joined the St Maritins Harrier Club, and he ' says his skating fitness is .returning rapidly. Among several top Canterbury athletes who curbed their pace to run with their children was the worldrecord holder for the veteran steeplechase, Jim Macdonald. He ran with his son, Mark, ■ aged five. Another good performance I was by the oldest woman in the run, Mrs Frances Clarke . of the New Brighton Club.

Frances is training for the Honolulu International marathon on December 10, and is one of a big group from Christchurch led by Don Cameron who will take part in the annual event.

Mrs Clarke, accompanied by her husband, ran nine kilometres from their home in New Brighton,, completed the Park-to-Park, and ran home —28 km for the day. Another impressive performance was by one of Canterbury’s former top racing cyclists, Wayne Thorpe. Wayne, who ran with his daughter, showed potential as a long-distance runner. He ran among the leading finishers, with the athletic ability which brought him to the front as a New Zealand racing cyclist. The next challenge for fun runners will be the Sumner Round Table City-to-Sumner fun-run, which will start from Sydenham Park at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, May 21. Proceeds will go to the Canterbury Multiple Sclerosis Society. A variety of reasons were given by the runners for taking part in yesterday’s run. A schoolboy said that he had nothing else to do; two girls in their twenties said that this was their first run, and they were keen on losing some weight; and a man in his fifties said that he realised regular running would help prevent heart troubles.

The run co-ordinator, Mr Frank Aplin, of the Rotary Club of Christchurch South, said the event was more successful than he had ever hoped. He thanked “The Press” for the promotion of the run, and Air New Zealand for its generous gift.