Run and swim to Nigel Ward

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 22

Run and swim to Nigel Ward

By

RAY CAIRNS

Even a 12km run to the starting line did not hinder Nigel Ward in his quest for another exceptional sporting performance at Waimairi Beach yesterday morning. Ward, aged 18. won the Wilson Neill Wine and Spirits Canterbury bi-athlon championship — a skm road run and a 600 m swim in the chilly swirling sea.

Ward, a New Brighton firstyear senior, won the run bv 19s from a specialist road runner. Mike Hancock, with Derek Ferigo. a surf lifesaving club-mate of Ward, at 255. The next nearest, at margins ranging from 37s to 15s. were Stan Hill, who did not swim; the organiser. Mike Holmes (Waimairi); and Phillip Seal (Waikuku Beach). Geoff Walker (Waimairi) and John Davie (New Brighton) were the,next closest of the lifeguards but Imin 40s behind young Ward. The surf swim only served to cement the claims of'the specialist swimmers. Ward cruising through to lead Seal home by 44s with Ferigo. admittedly short on swimming training, al 465. Lachie Marshall, last vear’s best junior, trailed Ward by 3min in the run, but closed up to Imin 44s after the swim, outswimming Walker and Davie by more than a minute. His was-the outstanding swim.

The best of the juniors was Martin Beks (South Brighton:, in

ninth place over-all. and 4min clear of Jeff Dickson (Waimairi). with Fraser Taylor (New Brighton) another minute back.

Andrea McKendrv (New Brighton) was comfortably the leading woman. 50s clear’ of Anthea Forbes (Waimairi). Debbie Soilings (New Brighton) and Vicki Morris (Waimairi) were the other female contestants, and both finished.

Walker (over-30). Holmes (over-35) and Eric Leask (Waimairi. over-40) were the various veteran winners in the field of 29. only two of whom did not contest the swim.

Detailed results, with surf lifesaving club abbreviations being New Brighton (NB). Waimairi (W), South Brighton (SB). Taylors Mistake (TM). Waikuku Beach (WB) and Spencer Park (SP):— N. R. W. Ward (NB) 29:35.1: PSeal (WB). at 445. 2; D. J. A. Ferigo (NB). at 465. 3: L. JMarshall (NB). at 1:44. 4; G. S. Walker (W). at 1:54. 5; J. R. Davie (NB). at 2:03. 6; C. K. Immers (TM). at 2:13. 7: S. A. Johnston (W). at 2:39. 8: M. Beks (SB), at 3:06. 9: S. A. Ward (NB). at 3:24. t 10: F. B. McMaster (SB), at 3:42. I 11: M. Holmes (W). at 3:43. 12: B. 1 M. Ferigo (NB). at 3:44. 13: M. Hancock, at 4:56. 14: B. D. Honey- I bone (SP). at 5:08. 15; J. Dickson (W). at 7:08.16: F. Taylor (NB). at 8:17. 17; G. Cadogan (W). at 836. 18: E. Leask (W). at 8:39. 19: A. McKendrv (female. NB>. at 9*”