MODIFIED MARATHON

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 5

MODIFIED MARATHON

WON BY R. G. PILLING FASTEST TIME TO G. L. AUSTIN GAVERSHAM WINS NICKELS CUP The harrier season for 1936 was brought to a close with the' tenth annual Modified Marathon over a 14-mile course on the Taieri Plains. The race (which was hold under the auspices of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Athletic Association) attracted a smaller field than usual. Of the 18 starters there was only one from outside the Dunedin cjubs : —namely, J. Metcalfe, of the Invercargill Club, who is also the Invercargill Club champion). R. G. Pilling, winner of to-day’s race, is the well-known Varsity athlete who ran third in the Port road race. He represented Otago at the New Zealand championships, and is also the New Zealand Varsity jumping champion. G. L. Austin, who ran second, put up a wonderful performance to gain' fastest' time for the second year in succession. He is a member of the Caversliam Club, and also the club captain, A. G. Hehberd, of the Caversliam Club, who finished in third position, is one ■of the most popular men in the club’s ranks. He ran fifth in the Port road race. THE COURSE. To-day’s race again started at Mosgiel, at the corner of Gordon and Factory roads, and continued along Factory road till the Wingatui road was reached 1 , where a sharp turn was made to the left past the aerodrome to Duke’s road, where a turn was made to the right. About a mile was covered in the direction of the Black Bridge, and then a turn was made to the left to gain the North Taieri road, which was followed for over five miles in the direction of Ontram. The runners then turned down the Mosgiel-Outram road till Duke’s road was again reached, the course then being along this road to Wingatui road and home along Gordon road, finishing at the starting point. TROPHIES. In conjunction with the Port and Modified Marathon Road Races, the Nickels Cup is competed .for annually, this being awarded to the chib with the best aggregate in the two races, the first three* runners to finish from each club counting for points. The Nickels Cup was presented by Mr N. Nickels, of St. Clair, some years ago to encourage road racing amongst the chibs affiliated to the Otago Centre. In the Port Road Race, Civil Service led Caversliam by 1 point, with the old-established Dunedin Club in third position. To-day’s race resulted in a duel between the two leading clubs, Caversham and Civil Service, who fielded the majority of the starters. Civil Service, unfortunately, lost their position on account of two of their competitors retiring. DESCRIPTION OF THE RACE. A smaller field than usual, 18 runners, faced the starter, Air T. G. Williamson, at approximately 2.55 p.m. Strachan and Patrick were the limit men to start off, and were followed at intervals until the scratch man, James, left some 10 minutes later. Barnes received a rousing cheer from the crowd as he left. Strachan was still leading at the aerodrome, followed by Wilson and Patrick. Strachan had dropped his co-marker. At the corner on the straight stretch Strachan still lead Wilson by 100yds, followed by Patrick some 400yds behind, with Hehberd and Pilling closing up. The back-markers at this stage were closing up, and at the Black Bridge Wilson and Strachan still led. With five miles gone, Patrick had fallen back, Pilling, Hehberd. and Hill being now together. At the seven miles turn, on the Ontram-Mosgiel road, Pilling led from Strachan and Wilson, with Hebberd in fourth place. G. L. Austin, one of the back-markers, had made up a lot of ground, and had dropped his comarkers, and was seventh at the turn. Along the main road Pilling increased his lead by over 400yds, and at Duke’s road Pilling was still increasing his lead, and then followed Austin, who had moved up, followed by Wilson and Hehhard. Barnes, the scratch man, had retired from tho race by this time. In the last mile Pilling was going away from tho field, and romped home a winner bv 800yds, followed by Austin, who was 400,yds in front of Hehberd, who had increased his position oyer the last two miles, with Wilson, who had run a plucky race, in fourth position. RESULT. R. G. Pilling (University), smin . 45sec 1 G. L. Austin (Caversliam),- Imin ... 2 A. G. Hehberd (Caversham), smiu 45sec 3 R. Wilson (Mornington), 9min ... 4 J. Metcalfe (Invercargill), 3min 30sec 5 W. MTvernan (Civil Service), smin 6 D. Eincham (Leith), 4min 30sec ... 7 W. Darling (Caversliam), 4mj’n 15see 8 S. H. Colston (Caversham), 2min 30sec 9 D. V. Scott (Leith), 3min 3LT.ec ... 10 Winner’s actual time, 30min 39sec. FASTEST TIME. G. L. Austin, 79min Isec 1 R. G. Pilling, B()min 39sec 2 J. Metcalfe, 84min 58sec 3 TEAMS RACE. Caversham Club (Austin 2, 'Hehberd 3, Darling 8, 13 [joints ... 1 Leith Club (Fincham 7, Scott 10, Strachan 11), 28 points ... ... 2 NICKELS CUP. CaVersham Chib, 30 points 1 Leith Club, 112 points 2 Previous Winners of Nickels Cup.— 1928, Hanover Baptist; 1929, Pacific; 1930, Caversham; 1931. Civil Service; 1932, Civil Service; 1933, Leith; 1934, Caversham; 1935, Civil Service.