University holds on

Press, 13 September 1982, Page 22

University holds on

" By

JOHN DREW

The University of Canterbury No. 1 team beat its old rival, New Brighton, by the narrow margin of 42 seconds to win the A grade section of the Takahe to Akaroa road relay on Saturday.

The race was so close that not until near the finish of the last lap into Akaroa did University stave off a tremendous challenge by New Brighton’s Tom Birnie to clinch the win.

University's winning time was 4hr 6min 53sec.

The Olympic No. 1 team was a close third, 6min 16sec behind New' Brighton. Christchurch No. 1 was fourth. A total of 840 runners took part. The weather was favourable except for gusty side winds, dust, and a rough road surface on lap five and some cold squalls of rain on laps seven and eight. New Brighton was handicapped by the absence of its talented up-hill specialist, John Hellemans, who had to withdraw because of influenza; otherwise, on the day’s performance, New Brighton must have won. University also won the B grade contest to hold the Hewland trophy commemorating Philip Hewland, a University runner, who founded the race in 1935.

University also easily won the women’s grade in a local record time of 4hr 59inin 53sec. Three veterans, who ran in the first “Akaroa" race in 1935 competed with credit on Saturday — Douglas Jackson (Presbyterian), who ran lap two, Les Smith (University).

aged 75, who ran well on lap four, and Jim Gardner (University) who ran a fast lap seven.

Jeff Elliot took’ Olympic No. 1 into the lead by about 15m at the end of lap two. Warren Sheddan ran an impressive lap three to further increase Olympic’s lead over the favourite, University.

Tony Good again increased Olympic’s lead with fastest time on lap four. Then the ■ New Zealand representative, Alan Thurlow, put Olympic further in front with fastest time on lap five. When Thurlow finished his lap at Cooptown, at the foot of the steep, testing Jap six climb to Hilltop, he had put Olympic in front by about 500 metres. Then came an amazing turn of fortune when University's Frank Nolan ran a fine uphill lap six to overtake Olympic's Stuart Taylor about a kilometre from the summit.

University’s Pat Bodger. taking the baton from Nolan, sped off downhill on lap seven to consolidate further University’s new-found lead. On the last lap, Grant McEwan courageously held off the fast-gaining Birnie to clinch University's win. Six records fell. Warren Sheddan (Olympic) broke the local record on lap three; Joan Merrifield (University) broke the local and open women’s record on lap three; Tony Good (Olympic) broke the open and local record on lap four. Denis O'Keefe (St Martins) broke the local record on lap six; David Thomas (New Brighton) broke the local and open record on lap seven; and

Birnie (New Brighton) broke the local and open record on lap eight. Detailed results:.

Fastest teams.— University Nd. 1 (K. O’Sullivan, 30:40. B. Kennelly, 32:18. R. Sprott, 30:31, B. Meder, 28:33, D. Burridge, 32:04, F. Nolan, 27:46. P. Bodger, 27:51, G. McEwan. 34:52), 4:06:35, 1; New Brighton No. 1 (A. Sinclair. 30:24, M. Radcliffe, 32:53, R. Hubert, 31:52, 8.. Martlew, 29:41, D. Greig, 34:00. T. Prisle, 27:46, D. Thomas, 27:27, T. Birnie, 3259), 4:07:07, 2; Olympic No. 1 (D. Macdonald, 30:09, J. Elliot, 32:47, W. Sheddan. 30:29, T. Good, 27:25, A. Thurlow, 33:49, S. Taylor, 30:33, C. Kitchingman, 29:32, N. Reid, 38:39), 4:13:23, 3; Christchurch No. 1, 4:16:07, 4; University No. 2, 4:24:54, 5.

B grade.— United No. 1. 4:25:58. 1; Ashburton No. 1, 4:26:12, 2; Timaru No. 1. 4:28:06, 3; St Martins No. 1, 4:33:42, 4.

C grade.- North Canterbury No. 1, 4:38:33. 1: United No. 2. 4:41:34, 2, Rovers No. 1, 4:41:41, 3.

D grade.— Nelson No. 2, 5:04:14. 1; Toe H, No. 5. 5:04:47, 2; Anglican No. 2, 5:20:43, 3. Women.— University No. 7 (S. McEwan. 37:23, C. Burden. 38:44, J. Merrifield, 37:08, L. Tipper, 33:59, M. O’Connor, 40:19, M. Warne, 35:47, L. Smeaton. 36:17, D. Tipper, 40:16), 4:59:53. 1; New Brighton No. 9, 5:24:30, 2; Christchurch No. 8, 5:29:14, 3; Olympic No. 6, 5:39:30, 4; Toe H No. 8, 5:52:02, 5; University No. 8, 6:01:53, 6.

Veterans C grade.— Olympic No. 3. 4:36:33, 1; Christchurch No. 4. 4:41:39. 2; New Brighton No. 5. 4:45:00, 3; University No. 4, 4:45:06. 4.

Veterans D grade.— University No. 5. 5:16:43. 1; Timaru No. 4. 5:22:13. 2; St Martins No. 6. 5:25:09. 3: Technical No. 2. 5:26:17, 4.