Tait fails in discus

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 17

Tait fails in discus

The big and bulky thrower from the Bahamas'. Bradley Cooper, won the discus title with a Commonwealth Games record of 64.04 m.

Cooper had the edge on his rivals throughout and in the end there were no real challengers. Rob Gray, of Canada, was second with 60.66 m and Bishop Dolegiewicz, of Canada, was third with 60.34 m.

Dolegiewicz was unable to complete the contest after injuring a leg in an early throw? This now puts in doubt his chances of winning the shot, his main event, today. Robin Tait, of New Zealand, almost certainly competing in his last major Games, was never really a contender for a medal, finishing eighth with a best effort of 54.22 m. The second New Zealand thrower, Mark

Robinson, failed to record a legal throw. The experienced pole vaulter, Ray Boyd, scaled new heights to win the gold medal in a very tight finish to the pole vault. Three vaulters, Boyd, Jeffery Gutteridge, of England, and Graham Eggleton, of Scotland, all cleared 5.20 m. But the title went to Boyd on a count-back. Gutteridge was awarded second.

The contest was a disappointment for the New Zealand representative,, Kieran McKee. Using a new pole, sent out from the United States just in time for the event, he easily cleared 4.70 m only to narrowly fail at the next height, 4.85 m.

There was another disappointment in the failure of the Commonwealth recordholder, Keith Stpck, of

England. He went out at 4.85 m. One of the Commonwealth's most experienced high jumpers, Debbie Brill, of Canada, won the women’s high jump from Christine Stanton, of Australia, on a count-back after both had cleared I.BBm. The contest for the bronze medal was even closer. Three jumpers, Barbara Simmonds, of England, Bridgitt Reid, of Canada, and Vanessa Brown, of Australia, all recorded jumps of 1.83 m. But the medal went to Miss Simmonds on a count-back.

The win was a big triumph for Debbie Brill, now 29, who was the gold medallist in the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games 12 years ago. Yesterday she returned to the top of the dias after a second at the 1978 Games at Edmonton.