Renner outclasses senior men in cross-country race

Press, 20 July 1987, Page 22

Renner outclasses senior men in cross-country race

By

GLENN HASZARD

Peter Renner (New Brighton) outclassed a strong field of Canterbury runners on Saturday to win his first senior crosscountry championship since 1980. The senior men’s 12km race on a West Eyreton farm was the final race in a programme for the day in which all the major championship titles were won convincingly by form favourites. The succession of easy victories started with a win by Eddie Gray (Greymouth) in the veteran men’s 9km race. Gray dashed away to an early lead and won by just over a minute from the man who has dominated veteran races in Canterbury this season — Bill Kennedy (Christchurch). It was Gray’s first veteran race in Canterbury this season and he made the rest of the big field of veterans look as if they were in a different race. The titleholder, John Brownie (Olympic) did well to come third this time considering he has struggled back from cancer surgery which kept

him out of the sport in the summer.

Next was Mary O’Connor (University) in the senior women’s Bkm race. She was shadowed by Sara Harnett (New Brighton) in the early stages but once she had opened up a gap there was no stopping her as she relished the muddy and hilly terrain.

Pru Taylor (University) made similar short work of the veteran women’s field in another Bkm championship race. The disappointment was that her main rival, Liz Laban (Sumner) did not race because of illness. In the men’s race Elliot Drayton (St Martins) stole the early lead for about Ikm, before he was hounded down by a pack of runners dominated by New Brighton men. Renner forced the pace and it was tenacious work by a former champion, Don Greig (New Brighton) which put him in second place as the field ended the first lap and began the next three. He was close behind Renner, hanging in doggedly, while behind him came the titleholder, Tom Bir-

nie (New Brighton), and Neil Lowsley (New Brighton), with a gap to Rob Mulcahy (New Brighton) and Pat Meffan (University). Then came Warren Sheddan (Olympic), Bruce Rattray (Olympic) and Dave Drummond (Christchurch). Halfway through the race Renner had a 21s lead on Greig, who was 15s ahead of Birnie, who had 20s :on Meffan, Sheddan and Lowsley. Rattray was a further 14s in arrears, followed closely by Mulcahy. Renner increased his lead over Greig in the final two laps and Birnie appeared to give up trying to catch Greig and settled for third, 9s ahead of a fast-finishing Rattray. In the women’s race Sally Young (Sumner) held third place throughout, while Pauline Kennedy (Cashmere) finished well for fourth after being sixth on the first lap. Debbie Tipper (University) withdrew when in seventh place, still feeling ill from influenza. Results.— Men Senior (12km): Renner,

43:16, I; Greig. 44:09. 2; Birnie, 44:37, 3; Rattray, 44:46, 4; Meffan. 44:56, 5; W. Sheddan, 45:31, 6; Mulcahy, 45:53, 7; Lowsley, 45:55, 8; C. McDonald (Technical), 46:02, 9; J. Sheddan (Olympic), 46:10, 10; B. Baxter (Christchurch), 46:23, 11; B. Dellow (United), 46:38, 12. Veteran (9km): Gray, 34:46, 1; Kennedy, 35:51, 2; Brownie, 36:40, 3; B. Taylor (University), 37:03, 4; B. Atkins (United), 37:25, 5; K. Wightman (Olympic), 37:32, 6; J. D. Macdonald (Olympic), 37:42, 7; G. Eng (University), 38:04, 8; D. McMillan (Olympic), 38:16, 9; V. Sykes (Christchurch), 38:49, 10. Under 20 (8km): D. Humphreys (New Brighton) 29:32, 1; J. Greenwood (United), 30:06, 2; B. Pulley (North Canterbury), 30:41, 3. Under 18 (6km): R. lambert (New Brighton), 23:29, 1; P. Trevella (Boys’ High), 23:47, 2; J. Cameron (Avon), 24:27,3. Team, New Brighton.

Under 16 (4km): S. Panek-, hurst (Boys’ High), 14:56, 1; P. Washboum (Avon), 15:17, 2; S. Wood (Greymouth), 15:28, 3. Team, New Brighton. Under 14 (3km): G. Lundie (Timaru), 1259, 1; M. Richards (New Brighton), 13:11, 2; M. Bolt (Avon). 1356. 3. Team, New Brighton. Under 12 (3km): N. Ryan (United), 13:45, 1; P. Whiteside (New Brighton), 1454, 2; A Lines (Cashmere), 14:18, 3. Team, New Brighton.

Senior (8km): O'Connor, 3255. 1; Harnett, 33:13, 2; Young, 34:50, 3; Kennedy, 35:06, 4; Hassan, 35:33, 5; D. Rowe (TocH), 35:44, 6; C Todd (University), 3752, 7; A. Kennedy (Christchurch), 3753, 8; D. Nelson (New Brighton), 3859, 9; S. Farquar (University), 38:40, 10. Team, University. Veteran (8km): Taylor, 35:27, 1; M. Stokes (Sumner), 3751, 2; G. Talbot (United), 37:32, 3; H. Grant (Sumner), 38:12, 4; A. Dahl (Sumner), 38:13, 5; M. Flanagan (Olympic). 38:46, 6; C. Martin (St Martins), 39:14, 7; M. Orr (Olympic), 3952, 8. Under 20 (6km): K. Barrett (University), 2856, 1; C Stowell (New Brighton), 3053. 2; P. McKay (New Brighton), 3138, 3. < ; ? ’ : Under 18: (6km): C. Barrie (New Brighton). 2756, 1; S. Rollo (North Canterbury), 28:41, 2; P. Depree (Universify), 2853, 3. Under 16 (4km): T. Croft (North Canterbury), 17:21, 1; L. Weaver (Avon), 17:47, 2; M. Blair (St Martins), 1854, 3. Under 14 (3km): K. Humphreys (QE), 13:47, 1; V. Stenhouse (New Brighton), 15:10, 2; W. McCartin (St Martins), 15:16, 3. Team, New Brighton. Under 12 (3km): R. Johnston (Rovers), 14:20, 1; K. Martin (St Martins), 1453, 2; D. Alder (New Brighton), 15:38, 3.