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
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19851223.2.135
Bibliographic details
Press, 23 December 1985, Page 24
Word Count
339O’Sullivan wins Gebbies Classic Press, 23 December 1985, Page 24
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.