Race should be three way battle

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 30

Race should be three way battle

Brian Sanders, John Howard, Greg Dobson — three names that are expected to feature prominently in the Steinlager Coast to Coast race. The trio are among 360 competitors entered in this year’s race and each is regarded as in with a big chance of taking out the individual open section. Each has the past record to support their favouritism. Sanders, a 32-year-old science technician from Wellington is the reigning champion. His victory last year also established a new race record time of 12hr 26min 23sec. A consistent performer in events such as these, Sanders was placed seventh in 1984. His main opposition is expected to come from Dobson and Howard, both of whom have fashioned an impressive record in the last few years of the race. Dobson, aged 25, a pyschiatric nurse from Cust, was runner-up to Sanders last year as well as gaining a respectable sixth placing in the San Francisco triathlon in the United States. Dobson has improved steadily in the Coast to Coast race, his runner-up position last year was preceded by a fifth the year before. Howard is probably one of the most accomplished competitors. He is a four times winner of the Fresh-Up Iron Man contest and he

won the Coast to Coast individual title in 1984.

Last year he entered as part of a team, and with Erik Saggers, came home in first placing again. The hardy Howard has run into a snag preparing for this year’s event though. He broke his arm.

The accident occurred two days before Christmas, but failed to put a stop to the 26-year-old self-employed Christchurch man’s determination to compete. He is still hoping to do “pretty well.” Howard is no stranger to injuries sustained prior to the rough and tumble' Coast to Coast event. Last year he competed less than two weeks after a painful tumble from his bicycle while training on the Summit Road. It left him with a badly skinned back and bruised and skinned arms. Competitors in this year’s event range in ages from 15 to 62 with 160 competing as individuals and 200 in two-person teams. Among the entrants are nine from Australia, five from the United States and one each from Japan, Canada and France. The oldest competitor is Belfast general practitioner, Bob Hunt, aged 62. He will be competing in the Coast to Coast race for the third time. Last year he was assisted throughout the

race by his father — aged 84. In 1984, Bob Hunt won the veteran teams section with his partner, Bill Kennedy, aged 48. Since then Hunt has been competing as an individual. He will again be in with a good chance in the veterans section is well Dr Dave Pilditch, the 45-year-old Dunedin anaesthetist who was third last year and is competing

in his fourth Coast to Coast race. Last year’s veteran winner, Sandy Sandblom, the 41-year-old Christchurch carpenter, will also be out for a win to retain the title he won in fine style in 1985. The oldest family team is that of Dr Don Stewart, aged 35, of Christchurch and his 61-year-old father, Sam, also of Christchurch. Don Stewart won the open

teams section with his partner, Hans Stegehuis in 1983. The youngest competitor in the race is 15, yearold Elliott Fuller, a student at Christ’s College in Christchurch. He is competing with his father, Wayne, a 40-year-old chemist from Masterton, in the family teams section. This is the second time that they have competed

in the -Coast to Coast event. The women’s section is shaping up as a two-way battle between Louise Dawson and Stella Sweeney. The 22-year-old Dawson, a teacher from Twizei holds the best credentials for victory. She won the women’s section of the 1985 Fresh-up iron man and is equally at home in the running,

kayaking and cycling sections. Her main rival, Sweeney, is a 38-year-old Nelson tutor. She has first hand experience of the conditions likely to be encountered during the Coast to Coast race having competed in two previously. On both of those occasions, 1983 and 1984, she was the first woman home.