Cross-country race to Roger Robinson

Press, 12 January 1981, Page 19

Cross-country race to Roger Robinson

By

ROD DEW

A fine win by the 1977 New Zealand cross-country representative, Roger Robinson, of Wellington, in the keenly contested M4O grade climaxed Saturday’s outstanding racing in the World Veteran Games cross-country championships held on a fast, undulating course mainly though the Ascot Golf Course adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth II Park stadium

A professor of Engish literature at Victoria University, Robinson judged his effort beautifully, entering the finishing chute lined with cheering spectators some 20m ahead of his nearest challenger, John Robinson, also of New Zealand. Roger Robinson’s winning time was an excellent 32min 14.55. John Robinson, in contention until very near the finish, recorded 32min 24.25. The bronze medal went to the Belgium runner, Pierre Voets, in 32min 365. New Zealand runners took the next two places, Alan Stock and Brian Atkins kept ahead of the first Australian, Ted Paulin, of Melbourne.

The race quickly developed into a battle between four men — the two Robinsons. Stock, and Voets. At the end of the first lap of 10,000 m race they were all together. Stock was the first to falter. He began to fall back at 5000 m, leaving the other three to sort out the medals.

Soon after, Voets found tha pace too hot' and dropped off. Just before the start of the last lap, Roger Robinson stepped up his pace and edged a few metres ahead of John Robinson. However, the latter refused to allow the gap to grow larger and the outcome remained in doubt until the slim figure of Roger Robinson put the issue beyond doubt

with a final effort just a few hundred metres from the finish.

“It is a nice little course. The organisers did well to make it so interesting. 1 really felt those undulations,” Roger Robinson said later.

An athlete of great experience, he holds the distinction of having represented England and New Zealand at world crosscountry level. He wore the English colours in 1966 and 1967 before settling in New Zealand in 1968. Just three years ago, he ran for New Zealand in the world event and is almost certain to be invited to take part in the trials at Trentham for the 1981 NewZealand team.

His win was more than adequate compensation for his being unable to defend his world road race championship at Palmerston North, and the disappointment of finishing only third in the M4O 18,000 m on the first day of the Games. Robinson returned from six montlts of study leave in Britain and the United States at Christmas, but caught a stomach ailment on the way back. He did not recover in time to defend the road title, which he had won in Scotland-, and he was still not back to his best in the 10,000 m.

“If I' had won the 10,000 m, I probably wouldn’t have run in the cross-country.” he said. “After the 10,000 m I thought I had better have a go at this,and I am glad I did.”

He will contest the 5000 m on Monday, but has decided to withdraw from the marathon.

The former New Zealand marathon representative. Jeff Fulina, of Auckland, won the M 45 crosscountry after a very close tussle with another New Zealander. John Macdonald, the chairman of the Games Organising Committee. Julian ran the 10.000 m in 33min 37s and Macdonald was a mere second back at the finish.

Third was R. Morgan-Morris, of Australia. Macdonald’s brother, Jim. not fully recovered from his effort in the steeplechase the previous day. was a solid fourth. it was a splendid race, which John Macdonald could be considered, unlucky to lose. However. Julian planned his tactics well and managed to sta.v anead when it really mattered.

An attractive Yugoslav-born American, Vicky Foltz, contpletelv demoralised the field in the W35 grade with a run which would have done her credit in any company. She reached, tile finish perfectly composed and under no obvious strain in 39min 16s.

The W35 and W4O grades were combined for the race and it was a runner in the higher age grade,'Joan Ullyot, of the United States, who finished second in 4Umin 43s and won the gold medal. The third finished. Yvonne Miles, of England, wa» also competing in the W4O grad* and she won the silver medal.

L. Drury-Piper, of Canada, finished fourth over all but second In the W35 grade. The bronz* medallist in the grade was Anne Kennedy, of Christchurch, who was sixth over all.

The win was Mrs Foltz's second of the Games. She won the gold medal in the W35 10,000 m on the first day of competition, and will contest the 5000 m. She is also entered for the marathon, but considers this “a big maybe.” ... Mrs Foltz revelled In the high temperatures, but there were others who found this difficult. Among those Who suffered was June Sliles. of Christchurch, the silver medallist in the W45 1500 m. She collapsed after finishing but recovered after treatment. A number of other athletes failed to finish the course in their events.,