Blind Runner’s Fine Marathon

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30681, 22 February 1965, Page 1

Blind Runner’s Fine Marathon

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 21.

J. Stratford, who is totally blind, finished mid-way through the field in the Auckland marathon championship yesterday and is hopeful of running “quite a bit faster” in his next marathon.

Stratford, a 26-year-old librarian at the Auckland Institute of the Blind, ran in the company of the outstanding long-distance runner, D. Stephenson. Stephenson, acting as a guide, was linked to Stratford with a short-plaited leather thong. This prevented Stratford from swaying away, and Stephenson ensured that he ran only at the side so that he offered no assistance in the form of pacemaking. Stratford’s time for 26} miles was 3hr 16min 58sec, which was only just outside the qualifying time of 3hr 15min which enables Auckland competitors to run at the New Zealand championships.

“I must admit,” said Stratford, “that I had a sneaking ambition to better 3hr 15min. I reckon I would have cracked it, too, but for having to stop four times with stomach pains.”

Stratford paid tribute to Stephenson, who had trained with him around the Waitakere ranges as well as during the week, and to C. J.

Henty, the fourth-place-getter in the race who had also trained with him three times a week.