Fast times expected

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34131, 19 April 1976, Page 14

Fast times expected

About 70 long-dis-tance athletes are expecting spectacular times when they race over the fastest 26-mile, 385-yard course in New Zealand in the inaugural marathon from Mount Hutt to Ashburton this morning. "We guarantee the course is the fastest in New Zealand and we expect most of the runners will be looking for career best times because it’s such a steep downhill grade,” said the convener, of the organising committee (Mr Eric Jamieson). "There is an over-all fall of about 1100 ft and a fall of aboug 600 ft in the first five miles, so with a favourable wind as well they will be really motoring,” said Mr Jamieson. The race, sponsored by the Mount Hutt Ski and Tourist Company, Ltd, has attracted

the largest entry of runners from the Services to contest a marathon in New Zealand — 10 from the Army, 12 from the Air Force and six from the police. The police team will include Constable Vincent Nolan, who was injured in a shotgun attack while on duty in Ashburton four years ago. “We don’t want to make any secret that its a downhill run and is sure to be very fast. We feel this has helped to attract the large entry. It has also helped to make it more of a fun outing and taken some edge off the grim image the marathon distance usually has,” said Mr Jamieson. Just how fast the course is was first proved by Canterbury's Olympic marathon representative, Bill Richards, of the Cashmere club, who became the first New Zealand athlete to break 2hrs 30min in a time trial on October 28, 1957. “We have probably the

richest range of prizes ever offered for a marathon in the South Island. The Mount Hutt company has been very generous with sponsorship and every bit of the entry money has been put into prizes and trophies for the race,” Mr Jamieson said. Mr Jamieson, who ran to assist Richards with his record 19 years ago, will run among about 20 veterans (over 40) contesting today's event. Among the strongest of these will be the holder of the veteran record from Bluff to Cape Reinga, Don Cameron (St Martins) and lan Falvey of Timaru. The ages of entrants range from 18 to 60. Today’s winner seems likely to be the Olympic club runner, Peter McLauchlan, judging from his fine time of 2hrs 31min in the Great Westland marathon. “If he gets a north-east wind to help him Peter may well smash the time set by Bill Richards,” said Mr Jamieson.