O’Sullivan wins annual Rangiora road event

Press, 22 December 1987, Page 29

O’Sullivan wins annual Rangiora road event

By

GLENN HASZARD

Russell Prince (Sumner) was robbed of victory in the Rangiora 20-mile road-run-ning race on Sunday by two of the best 20-mile racers in the province, both of who had to pay a late entry fee to have the privilege of beating Prince. O’Sullivan had won the annua! race the last three times, but did not decide to enter until Thursday — after entries had closed. He went on to record his fourth successive victory, beating Good, who has held the race record since 1975 and still holds it. Helen Grant (Sumner), runner-up in the women’s section last year, was the fastest woman, running over two minutes faster than last year. Bill Kennedy (Christchurch). another who decided late to race, won the veteran men’s section was a creditable sixth over all in a, field of 125. The oldest finisher was Arthur Stone, aged 70. Prince led through the first 5 miles in 27min, shadowed by O’Sullivan and Good. But by 10 miles O’Sullivan had taken command, passing that mark in minutes, about 15 sec ahead of Good, with Prince a clear third and Kennedy fourth. O'Sullivan stretched out his lead to 45sec over the next five miles before Good started to regain some lost ground. But O’Sullivan, in his first serious outing since completing the Moscow marathon in August, kept up his rhythm to win in 1:47:37. Good, whose record on the old course which went through Kaiapoi was Ihr 42:21, finished in 1:48:02,

while Prince held on well for third in 1:50:38. Colin Burt (Sumner) finished strongly for fourth in 1:52.07. Grant ran an even race to be the first woman, but the race for second was not decided until the last five miles, with Jane Ross (Rovers) edging out Colleen Martin (St Martins) by just under two minutes. Jane is the older sister of Anne Ross, who ran in Rovers colours until moving to Auckland, where she had been racing better than ever. Jane Ross has been running for about 10 years, but only two seasons for Rovers. She was the first senior woman to finish. Results.— Senior men: O'Sullivan, 1:47:37, 1; Good, 1:48:02, 2; Prince, 1:50:38, 3; Burt, 1:52:07, 4; W. Kennedy (Christchurch), 1:52:43, 5 and first veteran; J. Hill (Anglican), 1:54:11, 6; S. Stringer (Timaru), 1:55:04, 7: D. McMillan (Olympic), 1:55:41, 8 and second veteran; J. Souter (Timaru), 1:58:39, 9 and third veteran; B. Finch (St Martins), 2:00:08, 10; A. Wright (Sumner), 2:00:49, 11; G. West (Waimea), 2:01.11,12; G. Sauer, (Sumner), 2:01:46, 13; C. Linton (St Martins), 2:02:23, 14. Women: H. Grant (Sumner), 2:11:57, 1 and first veteran; J. Ross (Rovers), 2:16:09,2; C. Martin (St Martins), 2:17:59, 3 and second veteran; W. Adams (Q.E.), 2:23:30, 4; A. Batchelor (Aorangi) 2:30:27, 5; M. Hawkins (St Martins), 2:32:23, 6 and third veteran; B. Fortune (unattached), 2:43:38, 7; P. Stove (unattached), 2:45:07, 8.