Greig favoured

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 80

Greig favoured

Don Greig (Bascik New Brighton), the runner-up in the national 16km road running championship in Christchurch last year, is a firm favourite to win the fifth annual Laser Boulder Bay Classic 16km road race from Sumner today. Also in the field of 225 are the titleholders of the last three years — John Hellemans (Bascik New Brighton), who won in 1982 in a time of 54min ss; Tony Good (Olympic), who holds the record of 52min 46s with his win in 1983; and Kevin O’Sullivan (University) who won last year in 52min 58s.

Hellemans is a good uphill runner, but is expected to be outclassed by the other three. It is some time since Greig and Good have clashed and they are the two who should fight out the final few kilometres for the title. Good was off the running scene last winter and most of the summer, then returned to form with a vengeance this year, culminating with a win over O’Sullivan in the gruelling Soleares Avenue hill climb on March 2. The women’s record of 61min 41s was set by Wellington’s Ngaire Drake last

year and is unlikely to be lowered this year. The leading contenders for the women’s title are Colleen Bardsley (Sumner), Erin Baker, a top level tri-ath-lete, and Anna Warren (Christchurch). Bardsley is the recordholder for the Soleares Avenue hill climb and was the fourth woman in the Boulder Bay Classic two years ago in her first year of competitive running. She finished second to Vai Lindsay (Technical) in the Mt Cook Line women’s half marathon at Tai Tapu last year.