Chch teams dominate relay

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 3

Chch teams dominate relay

Nelson reporter Christchurch teams scooped most of the top places in the annual Motueka to Nelson road relay on Saturday. Canterbury University A won the gruelling 55km race in 2 hrs, 54.28mins, beating last year’s winner, Greymouth A, by close to one minute. Toe H.A. (Christchurch) was third (2:55.25), Christchurch Athletic was fourth and Nelson A was fifth. The major race was decided almost in the first two

laps. Eddie Gray (Greymouth) set a cracking pace and had established a good lead at the first change. However, Canterbury University’s D. Burridge ran brilliantly to give his runner a I.23min. start in the third lap. University then hung on to lead the other team home. The University A team was G. McEwan, Burridge, I. Milne, P. Bodger, K. O’Sullivan, B. Kenelly and E. Drayton. The best individual performance was that of the young Trafalgar A (Nelson)

runner, Patrick Meffan, who clipped 18secs off the John Walker record for the uphill run on Moutere Hill (lap three). Other results were: B grade: New Brighton B 3:3.41, 1; Greymouth B 3:9.54, 2; Marlborough B 3:15.07, 3. Veteran: Olympic (Christchurch) 3:14.57, 1; Nelson Veterans 3:18.31, 2; Christchurch Athletic 3:23.28, 3. Women: Nelson Harriers 3:48.50, 1; Christchurch Athletic 3:53.52, 2; Olympic (Christchurch) 4:08.34, 3.