Upset in Boulder Bay race

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 23

Upset in Boulder Bay race

In a minor upset, the men’s record-holder and titleholder, Don Greig (New Brighton) was beaten into second, place by Pat Meffan (University) in the Laser Boulder Bay 16km classic road-running race at Sumner on Saturday. Meffan entered the race on the day. He had been training in the hope of representing New Zealand in the World Cross-Country Championships in Europe and although he missed selection put the training to good effect. He beat Greig in a 5000 m Grand Prix track race two weeks ago. Meffan and Greig broke away from the big field of more than 400 runners after the first mile, covered in 4min 495. Meffan was the first to the top of Evans Pass, in 14:10, showing his renowned ability at hill running. By the turn on the Summit Road to Godley Head he had a break of about 70 metres on Greig, with a gap back to Bruce Baxter (Christchurch), who like Meffan had not figured in pre-race predictions because he entered on the day. Greig began to close on Meffan and at the top of the hill after Taylor’s Mistake he was only a few seconds behind, but Meffan skipped away to win by 275, about a minute outside Greig’s record. Marie Stokes (Sumner) broke her own veteran (over 40) women’s record for the testing course. Stokes, who won the open and veteran 20km graded championships organised by the Canterbury Road Riinning Committee late last month, ran the 16km all the way with her club-mate Colleen Bardsley, finishing third over all among the women in a new record time of 64mln 465. Stokes’ time last year was 67:30. Bardsley was 2mln 49s outside the senior women’s record held by Ngaire Drake (Wellington). A feature of the women’s race — held in conjunction with the men’s — was the performance of a virtual unknown, Deborah Chettleburgh. Although she does not run for any athletic club but merely ‘‘for the fun of it,” she vied for the lead throughout the race, finishing second, only 9s behind Bardsley. Bardsley was first woman to the top of Evans Pass, running the first mile in just under 6min and reaching the top in 17:38, with Stokes almost on her shoulder. Alison Dahl (Sumner) led the women through the first mile and held on well for third in the women's section in 68:53. Dahl has been competing with success In triathlons and her strength showed through on the demanding course. The 1986 Canterbury women’s veteran crosscountry champion, Pru Taylor (University), was In contention for second veteran place but collapsed about 100 m short of the finishing line and did not complete the course. She recovered soon after. The veteran men’s recordholder and title-holder, Andy Dennis (Westport), was another who entered on the day. His training has been interrupted by injury this year and he had to settle for second place behind Dave McMillan (Olympic), who was third last year. McMillan was 41s outside Dennis’s record of 57:00. A novice runner and first-year veteran, John Christie (Anglican), ran a good race for fourth, sandwiched between Bruce Burns (Olympic) and a former veteran winner, Graeme Eng (University). The Coast to Coast triathlete, Sandy Sandblom (unregistered), was tenth.

The race has grown in popularity. Memorable features of this year’s race included the traditional bagpipes at the top of Evans Pass, cattle wandering on the sides of the road to Godley Head, the panoramic views from the road over Sumner, and the sight of hang-gliders swooping along above the runners as they spread out along the Godley Head road. Results were: Men Meffan, 52:30, 1; Greig, 52:57, 2; B. Baxter (Christchurch), 55:29, 3; I. McGregor (Christchurch), 56:01, 4; B. Dellow (United), 56:05, 5; S. Evans (Kapiti), 56:27, 6; C. Cox (Olympic), 56:57, 7; G. Ludwig (Germany), 57:12, 8; C. Burt (Sumner), 57:19, 9; J. Graham (United), 57:33, 10; D. McMillan (Olympic), 57:41, 11 and first veteran; R. McTaggart (New Brighton), 57:46, 12; B. Daly (Rovers), 57:54, 13; C. Kitchingman (Olympic), 58:04, 14; K. Elfvengren (Sweden), 58:12, 15; G. Kerr (St Martins), 58:26, 16; G. Ryman (Sumner) 58:30, 17; D. Christmas (Christchurch), 58:32, 18; S. Stringer (Timaru), 58:47, 19; A. Newell (United), 58:50, 20. Veteran: McMillan, 57:41, 1; A. Dennis (Westport), 58:19, 2; B. Burns (Olympic), 59:24, 3; J. Christie (Anglican), 60:14, 4; G. Eng (University), 61:26, 5; A. Logan (Q.E.), 61:26, 6; S. Pavitt (University), 61:40, 7; A. Cook (Olympic), 61:43, 8; B. Allison (Toe H), 61:55, 9; S. Sandblom (unregistered), 62:40, 10. Women Bardsley, 64:30, 1; Chettleburgh, 64:39, 2; A. Dahl (Sumner), 68:53, 3; C. Boulden (Sumner), 70:44, 4; S. Farquar (Sumner), 71:27, 5; S. Feldbrugge (Olympic), 72:28, 6; S. Taylor (Sumner), 72:49, 7; S. Prutton (Sumner), 73:44, 8. Veteran (over 40): Stokes, 64:46 1 and record; P. Boland (Sumner), 75:02, 2; S. Clark (Christchurch), 76:54, 3; D. Stead (Technical), 78:21, 4; B. Hatwell (Blenheim). 79:18, 5; M. Harrison (unregistered), 82:01. 6. r .