Clubs Fail To Get Race Time Changed

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32209, 30 January 1970, Page 14

Clubs Fail To Get Race Time Changed

Letters from the New Brighton, Christchurch and Olympic clubs, and a petition brought to the meeting by Mr B. Perry, failed to persuade the Canterbury Athletic Centre, at its meeting last evening, to change the starting time of the provincial marathon championship on February 7.

Mr Perry said that the petition had been signed by 19 athletes who had run marathons during the last 12 months and indicated that a majority of athletes favoured a morning start to the event. However, the chairman (Mr B. H. Kerr) ruled the petition out of order and it was not formally presented. The three clubs requested the centre to reconsider the 4.15 p.m. starting time. In supporting an 8.30 a.m. start, the letters said that the greater proportion of the marathon competitors supported a morning race, the weather conditions would be more favourable, and it would give provincial representatives at the national marathon recent experience in running the distance in the morning. Mr Kerr said that the centre had made its orginal decision after receiving a request from the Greymouth club for an afternoon marathon. There would be no sig-

nificant difference in the temperature or humidity and the decision had been made after consulting leading distance runners last November. Clubs had not taken action to have the decision altered for two months before using unconstitutional methods only nine days before the event, Mrs D. Jameson said. Mr J. G. Smart, who successfully moved that the letters be received and the original decision stand, said that the major point to consider was the Greymouth club’s request and the’duty that the centre had to sub-centres.