Athletics: Spirited challenge for Harbour

By MURRAY McKINNON

North Harbour Bays face a tough challenge from Scottish of Wellington when they defend their road relay running crown in Christchurch on Saturday.

Scottish have poured considerable resources into beating Bays in the senior men's eight-lap event.

Sydney Olympian Michael Aish and John Henwood, another 10,000m track runner and representative at the world championships in Canada, are both down for the long laps in the event.

The balance of the team, Andrew Peskett, Blair Martin, Rees Buck, Matt Dravitzki, Todd Stevens and Grant McLean, are all proven 10km road runners.

An injury worry hangs over Bays' key runner, national cross-country champion Alan Bunce.

But he is expected to start, along with Allan Hugli, Dale Warrander, Jason Cameron, Stuart Kerr, Paul Hamblyn, Mark Turner and Ben Ruthe.

Counties Manukau, with Phil Clode and Mark Pulman, are expected to make a bold showing.

Counties and Bays look set to battle out the women's title over the same demanding eight laps.

Chrissy Pfitzinger joins veterans Gail Rear, Maree Bunce and Caroline Smith, plus triathletes Fiona Docherty, Nicole Cope and Adrienne Ngawhati, and under-20 runner Leonora Joy in a strong Bays unit.

Counties have national road champion Sarah Christie, Leah Hirshfeld, Kimberley Smith, Rachel Penney, Catherine Roberts-Swain, Sally Ward, Vanessa Nikora and Lee-Ann McPhillips.