Tobin runs brilliant race

Press, 19 February 1983, Page 12

Tobin runs brilliant race

Chris Tobin (Timaru) ran a briliiant race to beat Tony Good (Olympic) in the Canterbury Road Running Committees A grade championship over 20km on Wednesday night. Tobin’s time was 60 minutes 46 seconds, which broke Mel Radcliffe’s 1977 record of 61:21, but will not be recognised because Tobin was running unofficially. He said he had come to Christchurch for the race unaware that he was required to register separately with the road runners committee. He is registered to compete on the track and can compete in road races not organised by the committee.

This means that Good, who finished just outside Radcliffe's record, is the current titleholder. His time was 61:30.

Good, who has finished second and first in his two starts on the road this season after a season’s lay-off. led from the start, opening up 100 metres on Tobin. But Tobin caught Good on the first of two hills on Cashmere Road and stayed with him through Halswell, finally breaking away as they turned into Old Tai Tapu Road. In the B grade Mark Mitchell (Sumner) had a struggle all the way holding off the veteran, Eric Hunter, and the result was that Mitchell was pulled through for a time which was faster than Kevin Guthrie (Rovers), who was fourth in the A grade, while Hunter turned the tables on a rival veteran, Denis O'Keefe (St Martins), by getting a faster time, though O’Keefe had to run alone all the way. Christine Burden (University) was the fastest woman, finishing third in the C grade with a time of 74 mins 16s. Results.—A grade: Good. 61:30, 1; C. McLennan (Ashburton). 64:38. 2: J. Gamblin. (Ashburton). 66:05.

3; K. Guthrie. (Hovers). 67:23. 4; D. O'Keefe. (St Martins). 69:09, 5. B grade: Mitchell (Sumner). 67:13. 1; Hunter. (University). 67:59. 2: G. Eng. (University). 69:40. 3; J. Hill. (Anglican). 70:i4. 4. C grade: G. Harney. (Rovers). 71:48. 1; G. Kerr. (St Martins). 73:42. 2: C. Burden (University).

74:16. 3: G Sword. (North Canterbury). 74:30. 4. D grade: R Harbison. (Toe H). 75:43, 1; S. Payne. (Methodist). 76:56, 2; R. Foley. (St Martins). 79:09. 3; Beattie. (North Canterbury). 80:47. 4. E grade: J. Greencp. (Toe H). 83:14. 1; A. Wenmouth. (Toe H). 86:41. 2; C. Wright. (Cashmere).

88:01, 3. D. Horsham. (Sumner). 89 04. 4 F grade: T. Hain. (Christchurch). 93:13. 1: A. Coy. (Rovers), 96:30. 2; D. Sword (North Canterburv). 100:08. 3; G. Donaldson. (Rovers). 101:14, 4.