O’Sullivan wins Gebbies Classic

Press, 23 December 1985, Page 24

O’Sullivan wins Gebbies Classic

Kevin O’Sullivan (University) ran a fine tactical race to win the Gebbies Classic yesterday in Ihr 42min 465. About 90 runners started at the Sign of the Kiwi in humid conditions.

Greg Clark (Toe H) set a strong early pace and he was followed by Chris Cox (Olympic) and Jeff Hill (Anglican). O’Sullivan was content to sit back and chat at this stage, and found that he was a minute down on Clark at the bottom of Gebbies Pass, with Cox and Hill also ahead of him.

O’Sullivan caught the two runners going up the pass. He went to the front on the climb up the Summit Road from the pass, as the warm, humid conditions gave way to a cooler south-westerly, with rain.

Clarke held on to second place, with Cox third and Hill, who ran third in the D.B. Great Westland marathon two weeks ago, in fourth place., John Brownie (Olympic) finished fifth and was the first veteran • home in 1:50.40; but the fight was for the minor placings between Lex Blair (United) and Stuart Hill (Technical). Only two seconds separated the runners at the finish.

In the women’s section, Deborah Nelson (Bascik New Brighton) won in 2:9.4. Both she and Colleen Bardsley

(Sumner), who came second in 2:11.26, held back early and took it easy. Bardsley, who was third in the Wiri Marathon at Auckland on November 18 in 2:53, stopped for a chat after the Sign of the Bellbird, with about 4km to go, and this allowed Nelson the lead. Helen Grant (Toe H) was the third woman, and first veteran, home, in 2:15.35. Results: Men: O’Sullivan, 1:42.46, 1; Clark, 1:4423, 2; Cox, 1:48.11, 3; Hill, 1:50.05, 4; Brownie, 1:50.40, 5, and first vet.; V. Smythe (University) 1:53.34, 6; S. Taylor (Olympic) 1:55.29, 7; J. Christie (Anglican) 1:56.19, 8; D. Puckett (Ashburton) 1:56.59, 9; L. Blair, 1:58.50, 10, and second vet.; S. Hill, 1:58.52, 11, and third vet Women: Nelson, 2:9.04, 1; Bardsley, 2.11.26, 2; Grunt, 2:15.35, 3 and first vet