Recovery Made In Bush Run

C. W. Battley (North West) staged a magnificent recovery in the Woodhill State Forest yesterday to come from 2m 55s behind and overhaul B. Shuker (South Auckland), the provincial champion, to win the first national three-day orienteering contest.

A hard-fought battle between Shuker, R. Brighouse and Gordon Pirie (South Auckland) saw them finish only seconds apart. The race was on from the start as they literally flew through the forest with superb speed over a very fair course. Shuker deservedly took second, Brighouse third, and Pirie fourth.

Although South Auckland won most classes with their six victories, Battley gained the coveted elite men's section for his national relay champion club.

Robyn Moore, in her first orienteering competition, won the W19B for North West in very fine style.

D. Townsend (M21B) and L. Cathcart, who upset W. Bottomley (Central) on yesterday's run, gave North West two more victories.

Pinelands won two divisions and Central two, Taupo scored three seconds, Hamilton one and Rotorua a third.

Results (with aggregate times for the three days):
M21A: C. W. Battley, 2h 30m 14s, 1; B. Shuker, 2h 33m 1s, 2; R. Brighouse, 2h 34m 2s, 3; D. A. G. Pirie, 2h 34m 10s, 4.
M35A: J. Gregory, 3h Om 7s, 1; T. Brighouse (Taupo), 3h 12m 27s, 2; T. Nuthall (Rotorua), 3h 51m 15s, 3;
W19A: E. Frith, 2h 14m 33s, 1; V. Robinson, 2h 23m 32s, 2; P. Snedden, 2h 40m 58s, 3.
M43A: R. Murphy, 1h 54m 9s, 1; R. King. 2h 11m 2s, 2; J. Denyer, 2h 29m 59s, 3.
M21B: D. Townsend, 1h 58m 39s, 1; G. Frith, 2h Om 33s, 2; D. Mellsop, 2h 10m 3s, 3.
M17-20A: K. Hatwell, 2h 4m 24s, 1; M. Pepper, 2h 12m 20s, 2; P. Denyer, 2h 16m 35s, 3.
M50A: E. Stallard (Pinelands), 1h 42m 30s, 1; F. Buckley (Hamilton), 2h 1m 56s, 2; L. Baxter, 2h 19m 35s, 3.
M21C: D. Traw 2h 10m 4s, 1; J. Gilmore, 2h 57m 16s, 2.
W35A: M. Nicholls, 2h Om 53s, 1; E. Brighouse (Taupo), 2h 4m 10s, 2; N. Steinemann, 2h 2lm 19s, 3.
W19B: R. Moore, 1h 35m, 1; J. Sheldon, 1h 55m 55s, 2; M. McFarlane, 2h Om 55s, 3.
W43A: M. Hatwell, 1h 39m 50s, 1; B. Ryder 2h 6m 6s, 2; A. Fettes, 2h 25m 53s, 3.
W15-16A: C. Hatwell, 1h 28m 43s, 1; L. Moffatt, 1h 40m 47s, 2; H. Denyer, Ih 46m 58s, 3.
M13-16A; P. Murphy, 1h 10m 47s, 1; M. Brighouse (Taupo), 1h 23m 53s, 2; W. Hines, 1h 46m 3s, 3.
W-14: J. Davies (Pinelands), 1h 2m 33s, 1; K. Nicholls, 1h 8m 12s, 2; K. Fettes, 1h 45m 43s, 3.
M-12A: J. Brighouse, 56m 42s, 1; K. Snedden, 1h Om 46s, 2; M. Davies (Pinelands), 1h 00m 47s, 3.