Titleholders favoured

Press, 26 September 1980, Page 24

Titleholders favoured

By

GLENN HASZARD

-i Alan Thurlow (Olympic) and Mary O’Connor (University) should ■ retain their Canterbury ' road running championship titles tomorrow.

The main opposition to Thurlow is expected from New Brighton’s Tom Birnie and Mel Radcliffe, the Olympic clubmates, John and Warren Sheddan, Jeff Elliot, and Dave Macdonald, Christchurch’s Bruce Rattray, Gavin Donaldson, and Bill Kennedy, and University’s Gerry Merchant, Frank Nolan, and Dave Rowell. A dark horse could be Brendon Joyce (St Martins). 1 In the women’s race, AnnMarie Keown and Timaru’s Maria Moran should, fight out second place, with an

interesting line-up behind them, including Chris Burden, Doris Trueman, Denise Jelley, M. Madore (University), and Donna Cawkill (New Brighton),

The veteran men’s event, which was won last year by Jim Macdonald (Olympic) from Eric Hunter (University) and Vic Sykes (Christchurch), will again feature these three,-plus John Macdonald (Olympic), Graeme Morris (Westport), lan Falvey (Timaru), Ronnie Stevens (Olympic), Doug Reece (Olympic), and Clarrie Reece (New ■ Brighton). The Macdonald brothers should dominate the event in the . same way that they took control of the Canterbury crosscountry championships. With Pauline Woolman a

non-starter in the veteran women’s race, the titleholder, Theresa Woodham (United), will have a chance of retaining her. title, but she can expect tough competition from June Miles, Pauline Rhodes, Colleen McKenzie (Olympic), and Jeanette Holland (Ashburton). Grant Hardy (University), beaten into second place in the junior cross-country championships, will start favourite in the road championships, while in the boys’ under-18 event Dave Ellis and Bruce Baxter (Christchurch) should? have the race to themselves; Nicki Evans, Sue. Bruce, arid *Sarah‘ Harnett should fight out the first three places in the girls’ under 18 event.