ATHLETICS

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 54

ATHLETICS

PORT CHALMERS ROAD RACE WON BY L R, M'MILLAN. FASTEST TIME TO J. G. BARNES. The Otago Amateur Athletic Centre’s annual Road Race from Port Chalmers to Dunedin was held oh Saturday afternoon, when a record entry of 88 runners faced the starter. A strong southwesterly wind hampered the competitors considerably, but despite this. 77 of the runners completed the course, L. R. M'Millan of the Hanover Baptist Club being the winner in the remarkably good time of 46 minutes 18 seconds. The runner-up was E. Marston (Caversham Club), and J. G. Barnes, the winner of this year’s Edmond Cup .and Kennett Cup Steeplechases took third place from the scratch mark after conceding 6min 20scc to the limit man. Barnes’s brilliant running was a feature of the race. He gathered in runner after runner, and was up with the leaders over the last mile, to finish strongly and register fastest time (41 min 57sec).

The course was from Mussel Bay to the bridge on Anzae highway, and th.? competitors, .provided they did not go inside the railway .fence, had the right to select any route they chose between the starting and finishing points. Shortly after leaving Port Chalmers the runners struck across the country to the rear of Sawyers’ Bay railway station, and after following the road for a short- distance, took a cross-country course again

to the top of Tunnel Hill, from which point the road was followed to the finishing point, where a crowd of about 1500 spectators had assembled to watch them come home.

The limit men on the 6min 20see mark were sent away at 3.34 p.m., and immediately set a fast pace, but on coming out of the paddock behind the Sawyers’ Bay railway station, Marston had drawn up with the front markers, with Barnes going the best of the back division. By the time St. Leonards was reached it could be seen that Barnes, barring accidents, would be in a place, as he had drawn up into a handy position, and was running strongly. Passing the old Burkes station, Marston was still going well in front, but M'Millan who had run. into second place, was gradually closing up on him. About 300 yards back came Milne and Gourley, a little ahead of M'Dougall, Faulks, and Ward, all of whom had improved their positions considerably. Barnes, going with a beautiful free stride and quite undistressed, was passing man after man. and when Maia was reached, he was lying about eighth. , Going through Ravensbourne, M'Millan and Marston were running together, liaving drawn out to a good lead over the rest of the field, but with about a mije and a-quarter to go, M'Millan forged ahead, and, putting in a deter mined sprint as he came on to the highway, he won by'about 15 yards, Barnes being about 25 yards back. Then came Gourley, Milne, M'Dougall, Ward, Faulks, and Dotting in that order. The first three men home from each club counted for points in "a teams’ trophy, the Nickels Cup, which is given annually for the best aggregate in the Port Chalmers Road Race, and the modified Marathon. The latter race will not be run off until .September, but the Civil Service Club established a good lead for the trophy in Saturday’s race. The following are the results:— L. R. M'Millan (Hanover Baptist), 4min 40sec .. .. .. .. .. 1

E. Marston (Caversham), smin 50sec 2 J. G. Barnes (Civil Service), scr .. 3 S. Gourley (Civil Service), 6min lOsec, 4; H. K. Milne (Civil Service), 6min, 5; R. M'Dougall (Anglican), 4min 40sec, 6; G. R. Ward (Leith), Imin lOsec, 7; J. Faulks (St. Patrick’s), 4min 39sec, 8; E. L. Botting (Civil Service), 9; P. Stanley (Dunedin), 6min 20sec, 10; B. R. M'Kernan (Civil Service), 3min 30sec, 11; J. W. Tapp (Caversham). 45sec, 12; R. W. Watson (Leith), 4min 15sec, 13; T. G. Pearson (Palmerston). smin 50sec, 14; W. A. Stewart (University), Imin 20sec, 15. The winner’s actual time was 46mm 18sec. The fastest times were. J. G. Barnes '4l min 57sec. J. .W. Tapp 43min 24sec, and E. J; Johnston (Pacific) and G. R. Ward 43min 29sec. The prize for the first unplaced novice went to S. Gourley. TEAMS’ RACE. The points fqr the Nickels Cup were a s follow:— Civil Service. 12 points .. 1 Caversharn, 33 points .. .. 2 Leith, 36 points —3 Dunedin, 72 points, 4; St. Patrick’s, 78 points, 5; Pacific. 79 points, 6; Anglican.- 80 points, 7; Roslyn, 108 points. 8; Hanover Baptist 117 points 9; Abbotsford 150 points 10. WINNERS TO DATE. The following is a list of the winners to date, the name of the runners gaining fastest time each year being given in parentheses: —

1902. —G. VV. Cowie (I’. Bennett, 4Gmin 17sec). 1903. —J. F. Frew (H. C. Murray. 43min 12sec). 1904. —P. Romeril (A?' Melville, 43min 58sec). 1905. A. French (A. Melville. 43min 57sec). 190 G. —,l. Swanson (A. Melville. 47min 17sec). 1907. J. V. Quelch (J. Beatson. 43min 24sec). 1908. —J. Beatson (G M* Knight, 41min 45sec). 1909. —J. M’Lauchlan (11. C. Murray, 43niin 12sec) 1910. —J. A. Bond <G. G. Notman, 42min 59sec). 1911. —I). Jack (G. G. Notman. 43min '»sec). 1912. —G. G. Notman (G. G. Notman, 41min ssec). 1913. —V. C. Stephens (D. R. Thompson, 43min sGsecL

1914.—G. E. Tapp (M. Michelson; 44znln 7sec). 1921.—1 L Monaghan (C. W. Frye, 43mln 47see). ' 1923.—J. B. Bibby <C. W. Frye, 45min 22sec). Li2L— J. Cameron (J. W. Tapp. 42min 17sec). 1925. R. M. Stevens (J. W. Tapp, 42min 3Gsec). 1926. —W. Buskin (B. G. Cox, 43m!n Isec). 1927. —E. P. Rowlatt (IL M. Stevens. 42min 17sec). 1927.—C. E. Birt (J. G. Barnes, 42min 4Gsec). 1929. —T. Chettleburgh (P. 11. Francis, 4lmin ISsec). 1930. —S. Anderson (J. G. Barnes. 41min 14sec). 1931. —L. IL M’Millan (J. G. Barnes. 41min 57sec»