Russians Clash With Top N.Z. Athletes Today

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 11

Russians Clash With Top N.Z. Athletes Today

QNE of the most impressive line-ups of world ranked athletes and New Zealand champions ever to assemble in Christchurch at one time will be battling for international prestige in a number of feature events at Lancaster Park today. Among them will be the world shot and discus record holder, Tamara Press (Russia), her younger sister, Irina, world decathlon and 80 metres hurdles record holder, and Pam Kilborn (Australia), a former holder of the 80 metres hurdles record intent on lowering the time still further. However, it is the 5000 metres event which promises to be the main attraction. It can boast one of the finest fields that could be assembled anywhere in the world todav. Only Australia’s Ron Clarke, Kenya’s Kipchoge Keino and possibly the French runner, Michel Jazy, are missing. Wearing the red singlets of the official Russian team will be the 22-year-old steeplechase specialist, Viktor KudinsUy. and Leonid Ivanov, who led throughout the three miles at Napier only to lose to New Zealand’s Olympian, W. D. Baillie (Auckland), on the final lap. Jugoslavia will be represented by Franc Cervan and New Zealand’s Olympic representatives, W. D. D. Baillie (Auckland) and J. L. Davies (Tokoroa), are both competing in an effort to impress the New Zealand selectors for the Empire Games later this year. Unfortunately, N. I. Scott, who was originally in-

tending to race, withdrew at the eleventh hour. The field will be made up of the Canterbury threemile champion, B. R. Jones, the New Zealand Universities three-mile champion, J. Power (Canterbury), three other prominent Canterbury distance runners, J. Comber, E. Gray and K. Hamilton, and Otago’s outstanding track man, R. Ibbotson. The national cross country representative, P. Welsh (Otago), has withdrawn. Both he and Scott will probably be replaced with top local runners. With such a talented lineup there can be no favourites and the only prospect can be an enthralling tactical battle, with the two Russians possibly running as a team until the downfall of New Zealand’s track stars is assured.

New Zealand's internationals, Baillie, and Davies, may make an attempt to help one another through any bad patches but with Empire Games selection their goal it is doubtful whether they will try and defeat the Russians with team tactics. Baillie has been in great form in recent weeks and if he is placed under sufficient pressure in the early laps he could go close to M. G. Halberg’s national resident record of 13min 24.25ec. Davies is surprisingly enough the unknown quantity in the race. This will be his first race over this distance in such company and there is some doubt as to whether he will be able to stay the distance. But in the opinion of the Dominion’s most prominent coach, Mr A. L. Lydiard (Auckland), this is now the event in which the Tokyo 1500 metres bronze medallist has the most potential. The Yugoslav, Cervan, has not been particularly impressive since his arrival in New Zealand, although he has now settled down and can be expected to produce his true form in the international atmosphere. And, of course, surprise upset by any of the other runners is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility. They are all fine performers in their own right. The international half mile should also be a good race, but it is unlikely that the Russian, Olyeg Raiko, will be forced to accept defeat. His strongest competition should come from the Yugoslav, Simo Vasic, and the reigning Canterbury champion, J. Gordon, who

has been in impressive form in the last few weeks. There can be little doubt that the Press sisters, 28-year-old Tamara and 26-year-old Irina, are the dominating personalities of the Russian team. Unfortunately, with the retirement of Mrs V. I. Young .there is no-one to oppose Tamara and the main interest will be whether she can improve on the New Zealand record she set in the shot last week. Her only competition will come from four Canterbury girls, D. Charteris, S. A. Flynn, B. Poulsen and L. Curtis. These are probably the leading women shot putters in the Dominion and yet it will be doubtful if the best of them will get within 10ft of the Russian champion. Nevertheless, it will be a valuable experience for them and a good performance by Miss Charteris could ensure her a place in the team for Jamaica. The women’s 80 metres hurdles and 100 yards sprint

should produce world class times with Irina Press and Pam Kilborn battling for top honours in both. Between them they have lowered the world record for the 80 metres hurdles from 10.5 sec to a near ultimate 10.3 sec in the last few months. Irina is the present holder of the record and Miss Kilborn’s main object in coming to New Zealand for the Rothmans international series is to win it back. The 100 yards, although of less personal importance, should prove no less of a spectacle for both are world class sprinters as well. The supporting programme for the international events is little less impressive. D. Norris (Auckland), D. W. Mackenzie, A. G. Steel, D. Minards (all Canterbury) and C. Maguire (Otago) will meet over 100 yards and in the quartermile, two events which promise to be particularly close. Mrs M. A. Stephen can be relied on to turn on another good performance in the 880 yards. The international atmosphere could drive her on to the form which won her a bronze medal at Tokyo.