THE MARATHON RACE,.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 664, 15 November 1909, Page 8

THE MARATHON RACE,.

: Sir,—As an ardent supporter of athletics,'l' was greatly/pleased to see'that yesterday's .Marathon.race evinced' so much .interest, as evidenced by the crowds who lined the roads from the Basin, Reserve .to the Taita, and the eagerness with which those paying their. shilling—the true supporters of athletics—awaited the finish of ■. the , race. .1 must I congratulate' the Wellington .Centre on;-tke 'complete arrangements made throughout;, tlw" courso. and tho promptitude with which their patrons in, .the Basin Reserve were, supplied with the progress of competitors at the different points. Considering the force of the. gale and tho unpleasant • dust ■ storms encountered by the :competitors, . I think: we 1 congratulate ourselves on the splendid- performances put up by all those who finished the course. When compare the gameness of the majority when breasting the tape 'with , the deplorable condition of those competing in Dorando's race, :6ne' cannot help concluding that the stamina of our New Zealand; athletes is .much above that of the Old' World' competitors. 'I- think; however, that it'- is a pity that the sealed prizes; should' be' annexed by those filling the places—it'shows poor handicapping. Jt Would' have been a greater incentive for .niore to finish the _ course had it been confined to those unplaced! At the 1 same time I hope the Wellington Centre will not allow the gameness of the two filling the fourth and fifth-positions to go unnoticed, for, with the knowledge that : they . were" beaten, thoy : struggled on valiantly to the finish; .As the strain, of a Marathon race is' so. great that few take part a second.time, I think the menwho finish, tho course' within a reasonable time of the winner should have some memento whereby in future years thisy may point with prido to: the effort they put forth in such a trying, contest.' I am sure the Wei-: lington Harriers' Club' must feci, proud ; thai' their ' three representatives completed' the course, and'it proves that the cross-country ■runs have provided their men with grit and: 'staying powers.—l; am etc, . , . ; : OLD ATHLETE. . ' Wednesday, Novembor 10. : '