The flooded 1973 NSW Cross Country Championships

3 October 2020

The flooded 1973 NSW Cross Country Championships

As we approach the 123rd NSW Cross Country Championships in Wollongong next weekend, we reflect on a classic – the 1973 championships at Macquarie University.

Two years earlier the 1971 Australian Championships had been held on the same course and athletes had to dramatically negotiate a flooded river, running through waist deep water. The same occurred for the NSW state championships two years later. We caught up with three athletes that competed that day to recall the experience.

Sydney Uni teenager Rob McDonald, who placed fourth that day in the senior race, would go on represent Australia at three World Cross Country Championships. In the junior race, under-19 in that era, medallists Peter Bromley and Peter Hutton recollected their experience. Bromley, originally from Gosford, who is the current general manager of Run West and recently served 10 years on the Athletics Australia Board, was a leading NSW and Australian distance runner who won a NSW 1500m title. Hutton, from Sutherland, won many NSW steeplechase titles and was twice on the podium at the national championships.

SENIOR 10km

The senior race was two laps of a 5km course. McDonald’s memory was refreshed from what he wrote in his diary.

"Overcast day. Has been raining during the week. The course in pretty fair shape. Slushy in places. Second creek thigh deep,” McDonald wrote.

The race was a runaway win, by nearly two minutes, to dual Olympic marathoner John Farrington, running for Northern Suburbs. Farrington won in 33:05, from Alan Robinson with 35:00.

A race report wrote:

“After their close tussle in the State 20km title, John Farrington and Alan Robinson were expected to wage a ding-dong battle for the top spot. But this was not to be as Farro ran right away from the field in the wet and muddy conditions.”

McDonald was locked in a four-way battle for the medals with Robinson, Keith Mayhew, Bob Talay and Mike Kennedy, but unfortunately his run was not smooth. A race report told the story.

“Rob McDonald came in fourth after suffering a bad fall that could have cost him third place.” It also noted Albie Thomas did not finish.

McDonald added to the report.

“My diary says I tripped on a chain which was strung across the track (wouldn’t be allowed these days) early in the second lap and crashed heavily to the ground.”

JUNIOR 5km

“Country boy Bromley once again proved that he’s the top junior in the State when it comes to cross country running,” a race report wrote. “A very strong boy, he should go close to a place in the national title. Barefoot running Ori from Papua New Guinea was an excellent second only seven seconds behind Bromley, while peter Hutton was third.”

Bromley recalled the race.

“Our race was very wet and I can remember coming down that hill to the water with the Papua New Guinea runner in-front. He hit the water and almost submerged and it gave me that chance to get my footing and pass him and I think hold off Hutto (Peter Hutton) to the finish. It was a very steep track with lots of red clay from memory and I remember thinking why is Hutto and the New Guinea runner running so “dam” fast down the hill to the creek.”

Third placegetter, Peter Hutton added his recollections.

“That crossing was the deepest but the whole course was awash. A team had come down from Papua New Guinea. There was one young guy who ran really well, in bare feet. It was a really rocky sandstone course in parts. He must have been so tough.”

Albie Thomas, who worked with Qantas, was person behind a team from PNG competing at the event.

Peter Bromley clocked 17:58, ahead of V. Ori (PNG) 18:05, and Peter Hutton 18:09.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: Peter Bromley, leading V Ori and Peter Hutton at the NSW Cross Country championships.