Fine win by N. Reid in United marathon

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32734, 11 October 1971, Page 19

Fine win by N. Reid in United marathon

A former Canterbury marathon champion, N. Reid (Olympic), showed a convincing return to form when he won the United Club’s tenth annual marathon of 26 miles 385 yards in fine style on Saturday. His time was 2hrs 33min 26sec.

Reid, a last-minute entry, ran a well-judged race. He showed the experience of an old campaigner by keeping his early pace in check, and came through strongly in the closing stages of the race. P. Coughlan (Olympic) ran

well for second place in 2min 41.7 sec, about 3min ahead of the third man, J. Souter (South Canterbury). The talented young Methodist runner, P. Watson, running his first marathon, was fourth.

Conditions for the race were excellent, with a light, cooling southerly breeze. The race began and finished at Rugby Park, and consisted of four six-mile laps in the Cranford Street, Winters Road, Hills Road areas.

GENERAL. STANDARD GOOD Both the first and second placegetters proved, by their performances, the wisdom of reserving thetr fastest pace for the middle stages of the race. The general standard was good, 11 of the 24 who completed the race running the course under three hours. There were 33 starters from 15 clubs. _ The favourite for the race, D. Dlxey (Methodist), who was expected to win for the third successive time, was unable to start because of influenza. The former Canterbury 10mile champion, J. K. Macdonald (Olympic), took the lead early but burnt himself off in the first 10 miles, which he covered in 56min. This was 4min faster than Reid’s time at the same distance. Macdonald was already showing signs of struggling at 15 miles, by which time Reid was coming through strongly to overtake him soon after the 20-mlle mark. Reid’s time for the 20 mUes was Ihr 58min. Macdonald, whose time was Imln at the same stage, then faded badly Into eighth place. Notable among those who ran with distinction in their first start in a marathon was the fifth place-getter. G. Stewart (Presbyterian). At the age of 29 and on limited training, he completed the race in 2hr 47mln 42sec. An equally commendable run was that of his 18-year-old clubmate, A. Good, who kept with Stewart until 20 miles. In spite of a spasm of vomiting, he finished sixth, in 2hr 34min. He came in more than llmin ahead of the 50-mlle specialist, R. Alcorn (Methodist), who ■ was seventh. VETERAN'S GOOD RUN

The oldest starter, T. Bain (aged 38), who won the trophy for veterans over' 40, showed that he had continued to train to good effect during a recent flvemonth tour of Britain and the Continent. He ran a welljudged race to finish twelfth and the first for his club (Christchurch), in 3hr 3mln 3sec. He Was one Of five men over 40 who completed the distance. All finished relatively fresh. Of these, both W. J. Spencer (AngUcan) and R. C. Davies (Christ* ehureh) Improved on their previ, ous best marathon performances. The Olympic club won the teams’ race with first, second, and eighth placlngs. Methodist was second, taking fourth, seventh and seventeenth placlngs. Results:— N. Reid (Olympic), 2:33:23. 1; P. Coughlan (Olympic), 2:41:07, 2; J. Souter (South Canterbury), 2:43:53, 3: P. Watson (Methodist), 2:46:14, 4; G. Stewart (Presby-

terian), 2:47:42, 3; A. Good (Presbyterian), 2:54:0, 6; R. Alcorn (Methodist), 2:55:46, 7; J. K. Macdonald (Olympic), 2:56:50, 8; J. Tobin (Olympic), 2:57:25, 9; R. McMillan (South Canterbury), 2:57:49, 10. Teams’ race.—Olympic (Reid, Coughlan, Macdonald) 1, Methodlet (Watson, Alcorn, Lucas) 2, South Canterbury (Souter, McMillan, Falvey) 3.