MODIFIED MARATHON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23916, 18 September 1939, Page 13

MODIFIED MARATHON

WON BY R. A. WILSON MORNINGTON TAKES NICKELS CUP FASTEST TIME TO G. L. AUSTIN Coming all the way from Gore to run for his club. R. A. Wilson, of the Mornington Club, brilliantly won the Modified Marathon conducted by the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, at Mosgiel on Saturday afternoon in almost ideal conditions. By filling first, fifth, and sixth places, the youthful Mornington Club added to its already long list of successes by winning the teams’ race and the Nickels Cup for the best performance in the Port Road Race and the Modified Marathom G. L. Austin ran an outstanding race to fill second place and gain fastest time honours. • An Extra Mile The Modified Marathon is usually held over a 14-mile course from Mosgiel. but owing to an unfortunate set of circumstances the runners on Saturday covered fully a mile extra. Starting from Gordon road, the field of 23 proceeded a mile and a-hal£ along Bush road to Riccarton road, which was followed to Duke’s road. It was the intention that this road should bo followed past the aerodrome to the turning south of the Whare Flat road. Unfortunately, portion of Duke’s road was closed for traffic, and, while the runners were permitted to go through, the officials in the cars had to make a long detour with the result that they were not in time to show the runners which road to take. As a result, the leaders went on to the Whare Flat road before turning west and so the whole field had to cover an extra mile or so. This meant a decided advantage to the back-markers and made Wilson’s win all the more meritorious. After taking the wrong turning, the runners proceeded along the North Taieri road to the Mosgiel-Outram highway, which was followed until Gordon road was reached, the finish being practically at the starting point The Race Described Early in the race it was noticeable how well R. A. Wilson, R. Hughes, and R. M. Carroll, off 9min 15sec, were running, and others who were showing good form were C. McGregor, W. Young and J. G. Barnes. G. L. Austin being a little slow to get going. In Duke’s road. Hughes went slightly away from his co-markers, but all three were making a noticeable impression on the limit men. F. Sanders and J. Callister were running well together, and McGregor had made up half a minute on M. Mackinnon, who was running well with Fincham. Barnes was gaining well on the field, and Austin was making a decided impression on the front-markers. . . „ Hughes had gone to the front at the aerodrome and was running very freely ahead of Wilson and Carroll. Young and Crooke were running well together and Sanders and Callister were another good pair, although it looked as if Sanders should have left his teammate, who was not going quite as easily. Barnes withdrew because oi leg trouble but Austin was gomg better as the race progressed. With five miles to go, Wilson had passed Hughes, and as the runners turned into the Mosgiel-Outram highway the order was: Wilson 80 yards ahead of Hughes then Carroll 150 yards back, then 300 yards to Young and Crooke. 40 yards back to Sanders, and 30 yards back to Austin. , ~ At the Five roads, with only a mile to go, Wilson was still running very easily 300 yards ahead of Hughes, who was tiring badly. Carroll was 150 yards further back, with Austin steadily overtaking him. Sanders and Crooke were going well together low yards behind Austin and a similar distance further back was Young. Austin was gaining with every stride, and he soon passed Carroll and then Hughes. He could not overhaul Wilson, who went on to win by 400 yards. Then came Hughes and Carroll, both of whom had run excellent races. Wilson, who has been coming from Gore to take part in the Mornington Club’s weekly runs, ran an outstanding race and thoroughly deserved his win. He also gained third fastest time. Austin ran well throughout Jo record fastest time, and it was a littlei unfortunate in one way that the mile was run or he might have established a record for the 14 rones. McGregor recorded second fastest time and ran a solid race. It .was again Mornington’s triumph, for its runners were always prominent and n easuy carried off the teams race and the ■Nickels Cup. The following are the results. The Flacings R. A. Wilson (Morn.). 9min 15sec .. 1 G. L. Austin (Cav.), scr .. •• •• i R. Hughes (St. Paul’s, Invercargill), ' 9min 15sgc •• •• *• ** • • • • R. M. Carroll (Celtic United), 9min 15 sec F. Sanders (Morn.), Bmin 0 Then came: F. Crooke (Morn.), 7min, 6; W. Young (Cav.), 7min 45sec. 7: M. Mackinnon (Civil Service),. 4mm 30sec, 8; D. Fincham (Leith), smin 30 sec, 9, C. McGregor (Cav.). 4min. 10. Fastest Times Austin, 80min Usee } McGregor. 87min 50sec “ Wilson. 87min 56sec Teams’ Race Mornington (Wilson 1, Sanders 5, Crooke 6). 12 ppints .. •• •• I Caversham (Austin 2, Young 7, McGregor 10). 19 points ••••■• - No other club finished a full team. Nickels Cup Mornington, 26 points \ Caversham, 48 points -