Stapylton-Smith makes fine throw

Press, 7 December 1987, Page 29

Stapylton-Smith makes fine throw

By

ROD DEW

A spectacular spill at the end of the rain-swept javelin runway failed to stop the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games representative, John Stapylton-Smith (Technical), subsequently achieving a distance of 67m in the inter-club track and field meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday evening. The throw, using a borrowed javelin, was an outstanding effort in the conditions and suggests that the 70m barrier will be broken before long. Stapylton-Smith decided to abandon his efforts after only three throws, and avoid the risk of another fall and possible injury. “I am all right, but I will probably wake up tomorrow with a few aches,” he said in reference to his opening round spill. "I went to plant my foot, slipped, and rolled out the front. I landed on my head.”

In spite of the fall, Stapyl-ton-Smith still managed to get the javelin away, and it went out to 61.32 m. His 67m effort came in the next round and he ended the competition with a third throw of 63.68 m. There was no point in continuing in the conditions, he said. Instead, he will do the sequence of throws in training that he had intended to do in the competition.

Stapylton-Smith suffered a big setback the previous week-end when his high-per-formance javelin was stolen from Queen Elizabeth II Park, probably by children. He searched surrounding areas of the park before the

competition on Saturday in case the javelin had been thrown into long grass, but it was in vain.

Fortunately, he was able to borrow a similar javelin through his old coach, Mene Mene, from the Papanui-Toc H club. He was quick to express his appreciation of this.

At the same time, he has not yet given up hope that the $l5OO Swedish-made javelin taken from the park will be returned by those who took it when they appreciate its importance to his throwing future.

The first twilight meeting of the season was a disappointment. Entries were well down on normal Saturday afternoon meetings, although this could largely be attributed to the weather. The demands of social functions, however, also played their part. There were still some worthy performances. A young man who has not made quite the progress expected of him since his successes at national level in the lower grades, Elliot Drayton (St Martins), rose to the occasion with a splendid wet-weather win in the senior 1500 m in 3min 54.45. The New Zealand crosscountry and track representative, Dave Burridge (University), set the early pace before Drayton surged into the lead for the first time on the third lap. Drayton quickly pulled out a small margin over Burridge and at the bell was 10m clear. Drayton completed the final lap strongly, crossing the line comfortably

clear. Burridge, more suited to longer distances, hung on well but could not match the pace of Vern Roberts (Papa-nui-Toc H) on the final lap and had to settle for third. Roberts recorded 3min 56.75, and Burridge 3min 57.25. Drayton was later selected as the senior "Athlete of the Week.” The junior award went to Dean Wilson (Papa-nui-Toc H) for his winning performances of 12.49 m in the junior shot and 43.78 m in the junior discus. One of Canterbury’s most dedicated athletes, Philip Clode (University), had victory in the 10,000 m within his grasp when he was struck down with stomach cramp less than a lap and a half from the finish. At the time he was well ahead of his closest rivals and apparently heading for a sub-30min time, which would have been a most impressive achievement in his first 10,000 m race. Clode, the Canterbury 1500 m champion, will probably not run the long distance event again this season. His long competitive runs will be restricted to 5000 m. When Clode pulled out, the former New Zealand crosscountry representative, Bruce Rattray (Christchurch), found himself with a comfortable lead. He was under no pressure on the final lap, crossing the finish in 30min 355. Behind him, there was a minor drama when the second man home, J. Pierson (QE), was deprived of his placing because he unwittingly ran one lap short. This gave the runner-up spot to

Brian Uden (QE) in 34min 40.75.

The first woman to finish was Sarah Farquhar (University) in 39min 18.25. Chris Barrett (Papanui-Toc H) seemed untroubled by the wet surface of the throwing circle, winning the senior men’s discus with an excellent distance of 47m. Mene Mene (Papanui-Toc H) also managed a solid throw, of 44.86 m, for second. Matt Leech (Technical) claimed the other minor placing with his 42.84 distance. Earlier in the evening, Leech won the 351 b throw with a distance of 17.76 m. But it was a close thing. Barrett was a constant threat, finally finishing with a best of 17.53 m.

Grant Gilbert (Old Boys) recorded a smart 10.9 s 100 m win from Craig Galilee (Old Boys) and Hayo van Gestel (Avon). Kirsten Downie (Technical) was the fastest of the women sprinters, winning her race in 12.7 s from Lisa Smith (Old Boys) and the Commonwealth Games heptathlete, Lyn Osmers (Technical).

A junior, Ralph Brunie (St Andrew’s College), won the open long jump with a good distance of 6.70 m. This was achieved in the fifth" round, after three previous nojumps. Nigel Rodwell (Technical) cemented his place in the Canterbury team for the forthcoming triangular meet-

ing at Invercargill with a very purposeful win in the senior 800 m. He crossed the line in 2min 0.35, after pulling clear of lan Falkner (Olympic) on the final lap.

Rodwell later won the 400 m in 52.95. < The New Zealand 800 m champion, Colin McDonald (Technical), ran a smooth and well-judged race in the 3000 m for a comfortable win in Bmin 23.95. Andrew Condick (Technical) finished second in Bmin 28.95. An unexpected visitor from Dunedin was the New Zealand women’s high jump champion, Trudy Woodhead (nee Painter). She was the only competitor in the women’s event, clearing a satisfactory 1.75 m.