Marathon champion dies

Press, 12 April 1978, Page 18

Marathon champion dies

Long distance running in New Zealand lost one of its keenest advocates with the recent death of the former Commonwealth Games marathon representative, Lionel Fox. He collapsed while running in the Olympic Harrier Club’s opening run. But it was the way he would have wished to go. All his life, Lionel Fox was a running enthusiast and when he was at his peak in the 1940 s and 19505, he was a familiar

sight pounding the streets of Christchurch. In his long career, he completed more than 50 marathons and also started in nine New Brighton 50 races, completing seven. In 1945, he won his first New Zealand marathon championship and the following season retained it with a fine run in dreadful conditions. He was the Canterbury marathon champion in 1946 and 1947. His basic speed was

not great but he never lacked determination. He was also prominent in cross-country, winning a cross-country “classic” at Trentham in 1946. In 1950, he represented New Zealand at the Auckland Empire Games and finished a creditable thirteenth. In 1974, he suffered a heart attack. He attributed this to his occupation as a taxi driver. A founder member of the Olympic club, he was its secretary for the last 21 years. He was also a keen bowler. He lived at Diamond Harbour and played bowls at Motukarara. He was secretary of the Taxi bowls club and regularly organised matches for the drivers.