INVITATION ROAD EVENTS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 16

INVITATION ROAD EVENTS

ELLERSLIE RACE WON BY M. HELLIER SOUTHERN COMPETITORS OUTCLASSED (New Zeaiano Press A.tsoctatton) AUCKLAND, August 26. A 23-year-old Auckland harrier, M. Hellier. gained a splendid victory over leading New Zealand distance runners, officially representing each of the eight athletic centres, in the Ellerslie Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club’s invitation silver jubilee road race yesterday. He covered the undulating six-mile course from Pakuranga to Ellerslie against a strong head wind in 32min 53sec, and beat an Empire Games representative, E. Haskell, by Msec. R. Puckett, a former Auckland junior cross-country representative, and B. Magee, the 1955 New Zealand six-mile champion, had a close tussle for the third placing, 50 yards behind Haskell. Puckett just beat Magee. The southern representatives were completely outclassed. Their final positions were:—l. Fitzgerald (Waikato) 8, I. Stark (Southland) 9. E. Monk (West CoastNorth Island) 11, N. Taylor (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay) 12. B. Derwin (Wellington) 13. C. Reece (Canterbury) 15 and R. Cain (Otago) 20. Women harriers from Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland met for the first time in open competition in a two-mile race along the Panmure-Ellers-lie highway Miss W. Deed (Auckland) raced brilliantly to finish first, 35sec ahead of the three Christchurch sisters. Misses - Margaret, Heather, and Janet Macdonald, who made a spirited family effort to dominate the event. The winner’s time of 14min 38sec was very creditable. It was easily the fastest yet returned by a woman harrier in Auckland. Detailed Results Results were:— Great Eastern Road Race (invitation event).—M. Hellier (Lynndale, Auckland), 32min 53sec. 1; E. Haskell (Lynndale. Auckland). 33min 7sec. 2; R. Puckett (Onehunga, Auckland). 33min Msec, 3; B. Magee (Wesley, Auckland), 33min 15sec, 4: G. Gibson (Lynndale, Auckland), 33min 23sec, 5; J. Julian Owairaka, Auckland), 33min 34sec, 6; R. Chase (Olympic, Auckland), 33min 36sec, 7; I. Fitzgerald (Waikato), 33min 37sec, 8. Women’s Invitation Two-mile Event.— W. Deed (Owairaka. Auckland), Mmin 38sec, 1; M. Macdonald (Pioreer, Christchurch), 15min 13sec, 2; H. Macdonald (Pioneer, Christchurch), 15min 19sec, 3; J. Macdonald (Pioneer, Christchurch), 15min 23sec, 4; F. Perkins (Anglican, Christchurch), 15-nin 24sec, 5; V. Julian (Owairaka. Auckland), 15min 48sec, 6.