First attempt for winner

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 30

First attempt for winner

PA Rotorua Steve Denholm, a 27-year-old fireman from Lower Hutt, won the prestige Fletcher round-the-lakes marathon, at Rotorua on Saturday in his first attempt at the distance. Denholm swept into the lead at the 32km mark and went on to win in two hours 23 minutes and 30 seconds, two minutes ahead of Palmerston North's Richard Bume. Denholm, who runs for Scottish Harriers, in Wellington, has one national title and three Wellington 10.000 m titles to his credit, but has had an erratic

career. He peaked in 1975 when he won the national ten-mile road championship. He said after the race he knew he was in condition for a good marathon when he completed a 10-mi'e road run last week in 49 minutes. Over 2000 runners left the Government Gardens in extremely hot conditions for a marathon. The earlier pace was set by Kevin Francis, of Napier, who went into a commanding lead from the start, but at the 30km mark, when he was over two minutes ahead of the field, was forced to withdraw. Denholm, after trailing Francis in close company

> with Lloyd Walker, (ManuI rewa), Gerald Dravitzki (New Plymouth) and last j year’s winner, Mel Radcliffe i (New Brighton), quickly i took over the lead and I opened up a gap of nearly one kilometre over Walker « with 6 kilometers to the fin- • ish. i He was never challenged in the run home, and fin- ; ished fresh from Burne, who , came through the field, and • Radcliffe who took time to get going. : Mark Trotman (Glen I Eden) came in fourth after i leading the bunch then dropping back to eighth. Fifth : with a senational finish was '■ Howard Gregory (Master-

ton). He was dozens of places behind the leaders with six kilometres to run but stepped up his pace to overtake them ail. Whakatane’s Ron Jones, aged 44, was the first veteran home in a time of two hours 36mins 36secs, followed by Garry Regtien (Takapuna). Barry Magee (Auckland) won the 45 to 49 years age group with a time of 2:43.0-1, and Bev Shingles, aged 38, of Wanganui, was the first woman to finish taking ninety-fourth place in 2:50.

Results: Denholm 2:23,30, 1; Bume 2:25.36, 2; Radcliffe 2:26.31. 3; Trotman. 2:26.42, 4; Grggory 2:29,45, 5.