O’Connor set for title
Mary O'Connor (University) will set out to win her tenth Canterbury senior women’s cross-country championship on a muddy, hilly course at West Eyreton today. Although she was beaten by Debbie Sheddan (Olympic) in the Kennett Cup steeples a fortnight ago, O’Connor thrives on the tough course without the hindrance of the big hurdles which feature in the steeples race and is expected to be too strong for Sheddan. Sheddan was third last year, behind O’Connor and Sue Bruce (New Brighton), but with Bruce in Europe, Sheddan should move up one notch.
Dave Burridge showed with a good win in the Edmond Cup race in Dunedin last month that he is in form to give University the double. The international cross-coun-try representative should win the senior men’s race over 12km.
This would thwart the chances of Bruce Rattray (Christchurch), who has been in the major places for several years without taking the big title. He beat Tom Bimie (New Brighton) to win the Kennett Cup, but Birnie will be tougher this time. Peter Renner (New Brighton), will not defend the title he has held for two years, because
he is on the European steeplechase circuit. With Prue Taylor (University) competing in the women’s race, Christine Jennings (Sumner) should win the veteran women’s race, while Bill Kennedy (Christchurch) should retain the veteran men’s title unless Eddie Gray (Greymouth) decides to run the veteran race instead of the senior men's.
Gray beat Kennedy for the title in 1987 but ran in the seniors last year. If Gray runs in the senior race he will be up against another strong veteran, Kevin O'Sullivan (University), who ran away with the veteran race in the Kennett Cup steeples.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890722.2.127
Bibliographic details
Press, 22 July 1989, Page 34
Word Count
286O’Connor set for title Press, 22 July 1989, Page 34
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.