Winning return

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 27

Winning return

After 10 months away from running because of injury, Anne Ross (Rovers) returned to the sport on Saturday by taking fastest time in the Olympic 16km road race at Tai Tapu.

Her time of 65 minutes 30 seconds was 3% minutes outside the record set by Anna Vermeulen in 1983, but the conditions on Saturday were extremely trying. The 160 runners had to battle into the northwesterly for 7km on their outward journey, then turned to run back along Old Tai Tapu Road with the wind behind them but with an excruciating warmth which had many runners down to a trot over the last few kilometres. Gavin Donaldson (Christchurch) had a narrow win over a club-mate, Kevin Barnes, in the men’s section, in a time of 52:24, again reflecting the torrid conditions. Donaldson, Barnes, and

Greg Clark (Toe H) began from the back mark and ran together until the turn, when Clark dropped off the pace, still suffering the after-effects of influenza. Donaldson made a break on Barnes about 12km and opened it up slightly to win by six seconds. Results.—

Handicap: C. McLeod, gross time 1 hour 22 minutes 58 seconds, 1; J. Shepherd (Bascik New Brighton), 1:24:57, 2; C. Smithey (Q.E.), 1:26:51, 3; M. Orr (Olympic), 1:26:56, 4; F. Roberts (Technical), 1:28:08, 5; M. Pinkham (Zoe), 1:28:31, 6. Fastest times.—

Men: Donaldson, 52:24, 1; Barnes, 52:30, 2; Aikenhead, 54:58, 3; Clark, 55:24, 4. Veteran men: D. McMillan (Olympic), 54:47, 1; D. O’Keefe (Christchurch), 56:54, 2; S. Pavett (University), 58:02, 3; J. Souter (Timaru), 58:10, 4. Women: Ross, 1:05:30, 1; Dryden, 1:05:42, 2; C. Wright (Sumner), 1:10:31, 3. Veteran women: S. Taylor (Sumner), 1:08:53, 1; F. Roberts (Technical), 1:09:08, 2; M. Orr (Olympic), 1:09:56, 3.