Renner firm favourite

Press, 17 July 1987, Page 21

Renner firm favourite

By

GLENN HASZARD

Peter Renner, (New Brighton), looks a certain winner of the senior men’s Canterbury cross-country championship at West Eyreton tomorrow. This In spite of the formidable line-up of talent which will confront him, including five former champions; Eddie Gray, (Greymouth), John Sheddan, (Olympic), Don Greig, (New Brighton), Tom Birnie, (New Brighton), and Michael Gilchrist, (Technical). Renner is a firm favourite on the strength of his easy win in the Skeilerup Steeples a fortnight ago and his victory in the Jane Paterson 9km cross-country race at Sefton in May. His main rivals are expected to be Birnie, who won the title in 1983, 1985 and last yean and Gilchrist, who won in 1982. Birnie had a good run in the Skeilerup race and has shown a liking for the tough conditions of the West Eyreton farm which is the venue for the championships. Gilchrist, the 1979 national junior cross-country champion, did not compete in the Skeilerup Steeples because of injury, but has the ability to make a race of it. Greig, who won the title in 1984, is expected to be well to the force, but Sheddan and Gray, while being leading contenders for the Canterbury team to go to Taupo next month for the nationals, are not expected

to be in the top four places. Phil Clode, (St Martins), who represented New Zealand in the Skellerup Steeples, will not compete, because of a minor leg injury. Other top runners in the field include Bruce Rattray, (Christchurch), who was runner-up in 1984 and 1985 and fifth last year; Grant Hardy, (New Brighton), who was runner-up to Birnie last year; Pat Meffan, (University), fourth last year; Neil Lowsley, (New Brighton), and Bruce Baxter, (Christchurch). A dark horse in the field could be Dave Drummond, (Christchurch), who ran a good race in the Skellerup Steeples. The women’s Bkm race may not be the spectacle which some expect after watching Sara Harnett, (New Brighton), beat Mary O’Connor, (University), for third place in the Skellerup Steeples. While it is true that Harnett is making a strong come-back after a long injury and looks close to her peak, a better indication of the outcome of the championships may be the Holloway Bkm race, where O’Connor made a good break and kept it to the finish. The Skellerup Steeples suited Harnett because it was only 4.Bkm, and it was not O’Connor’s day because she does not like high hurdles and was apparently still feeling the effects of a wisdom-tooth filling. O’Connor won the title in

1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1985. She did not compete last year, when Sue Bruce won. Bruce is in Europe trying to qualify for the world athletic championships. The other leading contenders include Pauline Kennedy, (Cashmere), who was third last year, ahead of Harnett; Sally Young, (Sumner); Margaret Walker, (Christchurch); and Debbie Tipper, (University). John Brownie, (Olympic), was a surprise winner of the veteran men’s 9km championship last year, and will cause an upset if he wins this year. Bill Kennedy, (Christchurch), the titleholder in 1981 and 1982 and runner-up in 1983 and 1984, has swept all before him so far this season. The big disappointment is that the 1985 champion, Bryan Atkins, (United), has not entered. Eddie Gray, (Greymouth), has entered the veteran and senior races, but is expected to opt for the senior event His club-mate, Coleman Creagh, will vie for a top place, as will last year’s runner-up, Jim Macdonald, (Olympic), Dave Rowell, (University), and Dave Humphries, (Q.E.) Prue Taylor, (University), should retain her veteran women’s title if she has maintained her form since the Holloway race. Liz Laban, (Sumner), beat her then, but may not fare so well on the hills and mud at West Eyreton.