Athletics: Cougars hot tips for road teams relay

By MURRAY McKINNON

The Bays Cougars Athletics Club has assembled a top road-running team in a determined bid to regain the New Zealand senior men's road relay championship in Nelson tomorrow.

The North Shore-based club lost the title to Scottish Harriers, of Wellington, in Cambridge last year after suffering a blowout by the runner on the penultimate lap.

However, after extensive trials, Bays have entered a formidable combination of Dale Warrander, Mark Hutchinson, Kerry Rodger, Alan Bunce, Paul Smith, Robbie Johnston and Joe Atherton.

Bunce won the national 10km road title in Dunedin last month and Smith, the national road champion in 1991 and 1993, joins the Bays line-up after a long association with the Olympic club, of Christchurch.

Counties Manukau should provide Bays with the strongest challenge from the 121 teams entered in the seven-stage relay from Motueka to Nelson.

Michael Aish, lapped in the heats of the 10,000m at the Sydney Olympic Games, has been drafted into the Counties team and he will be joined by Simon Maunder, Simon Harvey, Phil Clode, Mark Pulman, Ken Kyte and Richard Kee.

Other leading teams entered are Papanui TocH, Lynndale and Scottish.

Wellington Harriers should win the senior women's event.