Road runners off to U.S.

Press, 19 April 1982, Page 23

Road runners off to U.S.

A team of nine men and three women to represent Canterbury in road running races in the United Slates from next month was announced on Saturday after the finish of the second of two 10km trials. The team is T. Birnie, A. Sinclair (New Brighton), W. and J. Sheddan, A. Thurlow (Olympic), E. Gray (Greymo'uth), B. Kennedy (University), B. Rattray (Christchurch), C. Tobin (South Canterbury). . Mary O’Connor, Anne-Marie Keown (University) and Margaret Walker (St Martins). Two of those selected did not' compete in the second trial, held at Kainga. They were the winner of the first trial held last month, Tom Birnie, and the national women’s road and cross country champion, Mary O’Connor, who is still

overseas where she has been competing with success in road and cross-country races. Alan Thurlow, who was second to Birnie in the first trial and won the recent Big M 10km race in which Birnie did not compete, won the second trial in 29 minutes 5 seconds. Chris Tobin (South Canterbury), who finished second to Thurlow in the Big M 10km but could only manage seventh in the hilly first trial, was second, 21 seconds behind Thurlow. As expected, the pressure was on the lower - ranked runners, and the three who emerged from the ruck with success were Bruce Rattray (Christchurch) for third, Eddie Gray (Greymouth) for fifth and Alan Sinclair (New Brighton) for sixth.

John and Warren Sheddan. (Olympic), who were equal fourth in the first trial, were content to finish seventh and eighth at Kainga. One of the unluckiest trialists was Kevin O'Sullivan (University). who showed the form of an improver in the first trial to finish tenth and had the ability to finish in the first nine at Kainga, but suffered cramps with 3km to go after being handy to the'leaders. The men stayed together in a bunch led by Sinclair for the first 3km before Thurlow took command and moved away, taking Kennelly with him, followed by Rattray and Gray. Towards the end Tobin came through with a stayer’s finish to snatch second place. The women played cat and mouse tactics until the 3km mark, when Miss Mollison

made a move and took Miss Keown with her. Miss Keown made a break with Ikm to go to beat Miss Mollison by 20 seconds, with Christine Burden third and the winner of the first trial, Margaret Walker, fourth. Results of second trial (10km).— men: Thurlow 29:05, 1; C. Tobin (S. Canty 29:26, 2: B. Rattray (Che" 29:33, 3; B. Kennelly (Univ 29:36. 4; E. Gray (Greymoutl 29:40. 5; A. Sinclair (NeBrighton) 30:03, 6; W. Shec dan (Olympic) .30:08, 7; e Sheddan (Olympic) 30:11, f G. Anderson (Timaru) 30.17 9; G. Donaldson (Chch) 30:24 10. Women: A. M. Keown (Univ.) 35:21. 1; W. Mollison (Univ.) 35:41, 2: C. Burden (Univ.) 35:44. 3; M. Walker (St Martins) 36:02, 4.