Dan O’Connor triumphs in Buller marathon

Press, 10 February 1986, Page 27

Dan O’Connor triumphs in Buller marathon

Mel Radcliffe (Bascik New Brighton) just failed to win his fourth successive Buller Gorge marathon on Saturday. He was beaten by Dan O’Connor, the brother of the New Zealand marathon representative, Mary O’Connor. About a minute separated O’Connor and Radcliffe at the end of the race after they had run together until 7km from the finish at Westport. The marathon, sponsored by P.D.L. Westport and Dellaca Fashions, attracted 170 entries. O’Connor’s time was 2hr 27min 47s — just outside Radcliffe’s race record of 2hr 23min.

Brian Gilmour (Greymouth) who was third, ran his best marathon with a time of 2:29.38. Andy Dennis (Westport) was fourth in 2:32.20, and first veteran. O’Connor, Radcliffe, Gilmour and Dennis ran together for the first half of the race. Conditions were cool at first, but became warm and sunny as the race progressed. Dennis was the first to drop from the front bunch, then Gilmour, and O’Connor broke away from Radcliffe after about 35km.

The women’s section was won by Helen Grant (Toe H) in 3:13.54. She

took the lead from the 1984 winner, Lorraine Hartigan (Westport), about 32km after catching her at 26km. Hartigan was passed in the last 10km by the former Palmerston North runner V. Adams (Westport). In the half-marathon, Eddie Gray (Greymouth) ran with Nelson’s Peter Handcock ' until about half-way, then broke away to record a time of 1:07.54, about 50s slower than his winning time last year. The spot prize, a trip for two to Hawaii for 15 days, was won by Robin Waters, who finished seventy-sixth in the marathon and is a regular supporter of the event and other marathons. The spot prize for half-marathon competitors of a trip for two to Rarotonga for eight days was won by John McArthur of Westport, while Murray Weaver, of Westport, won the trip to Sydney for two. Results.— Marathon Senior men: O’Connor, 2:27.47, I; Radcliffe, 2:28.53, 2; Gilmour, 2:29.38, 3; Dennis, 2:32.20, 4, and first veteran; M. Hawes, (Sumner), 2:41.53, 5. Veteran men: Dennis, 1; M. Clarborough (Nelson), 2145.31, 2; S. Watts (Nelson), 2:52.53, 3. First over-50: C. Reece (Christchurch), 3:03.57. Women: Grant, 3:13.54, 1 and first veteran; Adams,

3:18.15, 2; Hartigan, 3:27.42, 3; E. Peat (Nelson), 3:33.02, 4 and second veteran; M.. Hawkins (St Martins), 3:36.44, 5 and third veteran, and first

veteran over-55. Half-marathon Men: Gray, 1:07.54, ,1 and first veteran; Handcock (Nelson), 1:08.31, 2; T. Dixon (Greymouth), 1:13.16, 3. Veteran men: Gray, 1; P. Johnsen (Greymouth), 1:15.27, 2; G. Morris (Westport), 1:18.33, 3. Women: P. Daly (Cashmere), 1:22.42, 1; D. Taylor (Masterton), 1:23.44, 2; K. Claridge (Kaikoura), 1:24.18, 3. First veteran, A. Joyce (Dunedin).