Cross country

The NZU 7½ mile crosscountry champs were held at Tirohanga, West Taieri, some 15 odd miles ut of Dunedin. The course of four 1⅞, miles laps proved to be a tough testing circuit consisting as it did of several patches of bog, ploughed fields, ditches, numerous fences and heavy ground conditions.

The Otago contingent excelled in the conditions on its home course easily winning the teams race for the fifth successive year. The points were Otago (28), Victoria (50), Canterbury (76), Massey (86), Auckland and Lincoln were well out of the picture.

Evan Robertson, NZU Champion 1967, 1968, considering the knee injury sustained this season ran well to take second place to Otago's Lyndsey Dey. Third berth was filled by Bruce Beath of Otago. Their respective times were: Dey 40m, 53.8s., Robertson 41m. 6s., Beath 41m. 30s.

As expected the Victoria team did not finish high in the individual placings, however the considerable depth in the runners enabled Vic to take second place in the team's race, one of the best performances by Victoria for many tournaments.

With the first four men home counting, the Vic's placings and times were: Martin Fisher (10 43m 15s, Ian Stock-well (11) 43m 21s, Eric Cairns (13) 43m 50s, Peter Simpson (16) 44 m 43s.

The addition of Ian Hunt (20) 46m 26s enabled Victoria easily to retain the Shackle-ford Cup for the top North Island University team (first five runners home counting). The final points were Victoria 70 and Massey 119.

Other Vic placings and times were: Tony Burgc (22) 47m 12s and Jhn Horsley (32) 51m 33s. There were some 42 starters in the race.

There were two welcome innovations this year. First there was the women's cross country race which Otago won convincingly as only Otago competitors entered. One has certain reservations about the invasion of women harriers into a traditional male preserve especially the Cross Country Dinner which was integrated this year for the first time. However, the Vic contingent performed well with several members failing to complete the courses and a club official was too indisposed to give his speech.

Another club member achieved distinction or more accurately notoriety by being the first person to have a technicolour yawn in the Jacobean Room in the new Union building extensions. Shades of 21 sherries!

The second innovation was the introduction of a social road relay race. This proved to be an enjoyable event with 4 member teams competing over a 4-lap 3½ mile circuit. Victoria entered two teams with the A team finishing 2nd to Otago. With some redistribution of runners Vic could have won the event as the B team was in front of the A team at the end of the first lap by 18 seconds, and the A team was only some six seconds behind Otago at the finish. Two Vic runners Martin Fisher (17m 14s) and Ian Hunt (17m 32s) ran well to take first equal and third fastest times respectively.

The NZU cross country which toured Australia comprised Paul Sumpeter (Capt.). Auckland; Keith Darling, Allstair Hassell, Bruce Beath, Lyndsey Dey, Chip Dunckley (all from Otago). Evan Roberts on (Massey was unavailable.