MODIFIED MARATHON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24410, 23 September 1940, Page 5

MODIFIED MARATHON

A WIN FOR F. CROOKE AUSTIN'S RECORD TIME TEAMS' RACE TO MORNINGTON The annual Modified Marathon Race of 14 miles held on the Taieri Plain on Saturday by the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was won by F. Crooke (Morn- ! ington) out of a field of 24 runners, 19 of whom finished. J. Walker (Mornington) was second, and G. L. Austin (Caversham), who took third place off scratch, established a record of 75min 17sec for fastest time. The previous best time was that of J. G. Barnes, who covered the distance in 77min 20sec in 1932. The race started and finished at Mosgiel, and, except for a keen southerly that retarded the runners during the. Very early stages, the conditions were ideal. The teams' race, in which placings in this event were combined with those in the Port Road -Race for the Nickels Cup, was won by .the Mornington Club, Which thus, retains the cup. Second fastest time .went to Crooke (81min 26sec), with C. McGregor (81mdn 46sec) third. ;• Description of Race Starting ■positions were maintained when the runners turned into Duke's road after covering two miles, except . that the front bunch—A Rackley, N Taylor, and W. Taylor, on 14min—had drawn slightly away from Templeton and. Grainger (13min), who had been joined by Everett (12min). By the time the end of Duke's road had been reached and five miles and a-half were gone, Everett, who was going very solidly at that stage, had taken the'lead and was 40 yards ahead of W Taylor, with Rackley 200 yards away third. Crooke (7min 15sec) had made up a good deal of ground, and was going nicely, while Austin, off scratch, had gained nearly six minutes on the field when he turned, still last, towards the hills. With nine, miles covered, Everett, Walker and W. Taylor were still at the front with Crooke accompanying another bunch not far back, and Austin still tailing the field, although he had then made up almost eight and a-half minutes. When they turned on to the tar-sealed road for home with about four miles to go Everett was;still in the lead, but Walker and Crpoke were handy, and Austin had begun to move up. As they passed through Wylie's Crossing Everett had dropped back to third and was failinc. Crooke had taken the lead, with Walker 150 yards back, but Austin was coming on fast, overhauling one man after another, and it was evident that these three would fill the first three places. As they drew within a mile of the finish it looked as thouqh Austin would get into second place, but Walker held on well, to finish 200 yards behind Crooke. who had run a magnificently judged race and thoroughly deserved his win. ■ Austin was another 200 yards away third. The Placings Placings were as follows: F. Crooke (Mornington). 7min 15sec, 81min 26sec .. .... .. .. 1 J. Walker (Mornington). llmin lOsec. 85min 55sec 2 G. L. Austin (Caversham). scr 75min 17sec 3 The others finished in the following order:—C. Blackledge (Leith). llmin 45sec; D. Fincham (Leith), 6min; C. McGregor (Caversham), 4min 45sec: R. Hughes (Leith). 6min: L. F. Gerrie (Caversham), 9min: J. Templeton (Mornington). 13min; J. Markhsm (Leith), Bmin 45sec: A. Caddie (Civil Service), lOmin 30sec; J. A. Welsh (Caversham), llmin; A. G. Hebbard (Caversham) 9min 30sec; J. .Grainger (Mornington), 13min; M. Mackinncn (Civil Service), smin: W. Taylor (Mornington). 14min: N. Taylor.(St. Kilda>. 14mlh; J;■: J. Everett ; (Mornington);'. 12min: F. Sanders (Mornington). Bmin 15sec. Nickels Cup Placings for the Nickels Curj, which included those in the Port Road Race, were as follows: — Mornington (22—12—34) .. .... 1. Caversham (29—17—46) % .. .. 2 'Leith (44—16—60) .. #. .. .. 3-

BARTLETT SHIELD CAVERSHAM CLUB'S, AGGREGATE '.- The final positions in the competition for the Bartiett Shield, awarded by the Caversham Club to the .runner with the best aggregate in the Brighton-Green Island, Port Chalmers-Duhedin, and Modified Marathon events, are as follows: G. L. Austin, 7 points 1 J. A. Welsh, 8 points 2 L. F. Gerrie, 9 points .. ..' 3 " C. McGregor, 10 points .'. .. 4 A. G. Hebbard, 11 points .. .. 5 HARRIERS' FIXTURES Celtic United Club ';'; The second and final sports meeting of the Celtic United Club, for the Blue Star Sports Cup was held onForbury Park. The results were as follows: 440 Yards.—A. E. Dyson ~ (10yds) 1, P. Venning (10yds) 2. E. 'Paterson (25yds). 3. : ;') Hop. Step, and Jump.—P. Venning (scr) 1. M. Fay (scr) 2. E. Paterson (Ift) 3. > High Jump.—D.* Clements (scr) 1. M, Fay (3in) 2, F. ' Petti t (6in) 3. Discus Throw.—D. Clements (scr) 1, P. Venning (scr) 2, M. Johnson (10ft) 3. One Mile.—J. Cameron (50yds) 1, D. Clements (10yds) 2, M; Fay (10yds) 3. Cup Points.—M;: Fay/. (13 points) 1, P. Venning (11 points) 2. D; Clements (9 points) 3, R; McCarthy arid E. Paterson (5 points), equal, 4; A, Tumbull and A. E. Dyson .(4 points).'equal. 6V .' :^ ; fe;' ';•-"•■ : ' The St. Kilda Club held its run from the Glendining Home, Anderson's Bay, and the men were afterwards entertained at tea by Mr and Mrs Roberts, who were thanked by Mr J. Ross (president). The following are the prizes for the season:— The colts' trophv for most points in track events—A. Campbell 1, L. Colombus 2, R. Jones 3; first-class certificates, L. Colombus and R. Jones; second-class certificate, L, Colombus; trophy for most points in field events—R. Jones 1. A. Campbell 2, L. Egan 3; first-class certificates, A. Campbell and L. Egan: second-class certificate. A. Campbell. Civil Service Sports The following are the results of the Civil Service Club's sports . meeting on Saturday:— ■■ .• , • High Jump*.—A. McCartney 1, L. Dickel 2, L. Bradshaw 3. Height, sft;,, Long Jump.—P. Thompson 1, C, McKersey 2, L. Bradshaw 3. Distance, 20ft 6Jin. Hop, Step, and Jump.—A. Thompson 1, N. Bradshaw 2, L. Bradshaw 3. Distance, 42ft 9Jin. 220 Yards.—A. McCartney 1, C. Walker 2, L. Dickel 3. Time, 24 4-ssec, 440 Yards.—A. R. Geddes 1, A, McCartney 2, L. Dickel 3 Time, 51 2-Ssec. Colts' 440 Yards.—Hamilton 1. Kelly 2. McKernan 3. Time. 54 3-ssec. Mornington Club The last run of the season oi the Mornington Club was held on Saturday from the St. Kilda pavilion. A pack of 16, led by Deputy Captain W. N. Burrows, staged an unofficial run home. Burrows and T. Wallace tied for first place, with A. Jelley and W. Gardiner close behind.