D. PUCKETT WINS MARATHON TITLE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30367, 17 February 1964, Page 7

D. PUCKETT WINS MARATHON TITLE

A short time after his brother had been placed a close second in the Auckland marathon on Saturday, D. Puckett of the Technical dub wen the Canterbury title in the record time of 2hr 28min 42.25ec. This was eight minutes slower than his brother’* time but- it was the Canterbury runner’s best D. Puckett who was. third in the national championship last year, used hia head as well as his great stamina over the 26-mile course. He ran well within himself in the early stages when the Reece brothers, Clarrie and Doug, were well ahead and virtually running themselves into the ground. Doug Reece pulled out first and then Clarrie slowed down to a walk and then left the Toad at about the' 15-mile mack in the Heathcote valley: At this stage Puckett was well in the lead, running strongly and at a much faster pace than earlier. S. Gawler (Technical) was second, but slowing up and the determined T. Preece (Toe H), in third place, looked completely undistressed. Stepped Up'Pace

Before Puckett made his break he had stepped up his pabe at the 12-mile mark and this effort seemed to take much of the starch from his rivals. Once in the lead he never looked like losing and strode through the streets at

a pace which hardly diminished. . Preece finished well in 2hr 36min 51-Bsec for second and R. Kenny (Christchurch) made up ground over the final stages for third in 2hr 37m'in 56.55ec. Gawler and R. Farmer (Olympic) were fourth ■ and fifth, within a minute of each other and Marist’s A. Buckley beat a former title-holder, R. J. Stevens, for sixth place. Thirty-one began, and 15 finished, including the veterans L. Fox and F. Sharp. N. Fleming, second last year, tripped over a curbing at the 10-mile mark and fell, gashing his knee. He resumed but pulled out four miles further on. Results:— Marathon, 28 Miles 385 Yards (no record; holder, G. .T.- Wilson (O.), 2:33:13.4).—D. Puckett (T.), 228:422, i; T. Preece, (T.H.), 2:36:512, 2; R. Kerry (Ch.), 227:55.6, 3; S. Gawler (T.), 2:40:462, 4; R. T. Farmer, (O ), 2:41:21:.6, 5; A. Buckley (M.), 2:47:42.8, 6; R. J. Stevens (U.), 2:48:132, 7; W. L. Hobbs (0.1, 2:5205A 8; J. Stuart (A.), 22826.0, ».

Burnham Domain.—Messrs R. A. Boulton, R. T. Buckley, L P. Chamberlain, D. G. Scott, M. G. Scott, R. H. Stewart, T. Tyson, and the member of the Ellesmere County Council representing the Springston riding, have been appointed to be the Burnham Domain Board.