Gazley wins gruelling ski event

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 26

Gazley wins gruelling ski event

By

TIM DINBAR

Tony Gazley. a Wellington draughtsman who "occasionally runs marathons.” paced himself perfectly to win Mount Ruapehu's Giant Man 5000 race on Saturday. Gazley. who took the $lOOO first prize and the Kings Court Cup. recorded the very fast one hour 54min 21s, 47s inside the race record. There was a shock the

evening otioiv inc vouivsl when Steve Erikson, of Utah, the winner of the inaugural event last year, withdrew after his slightly unorthodox ski-ing equipment was rejected by the scrutineers.

The ’ over-the-mountain race - the North Island equivalent of Wanaka's Iron Man Contest — involved a stiff climb, a headlong skiing dash and then, worst of all. a 17km road race back-

packing ski gear.

Gazley. a tall and lean 38-year-old. has already proved his fitness for Iron Man events with a third placing last year and he made a bold start on Saturday. By the time he had climbed from the Whakapapa side of the mountain to the crater check point and skied down the other side to the Turoa car park, Gazley already had 7min on the other 43 competitors. "But it’s still a bloody long way down that road." said a tired Gazley after the race. "It’s worse than a marathon. Having that pack on your back hampers you. You can’t run with a proper running style." However. Gazley retained that 7min advantage to the end and Dave Binford, a Wellington park ranger.

second once again with 2hr Imin 21s had glazed eyes and wobbly legs as he made it to the finish and Ohakune Junction.

Both Binford and an Auckland university student. Martin Reesby. aged 20, third in 2hr 4min 245, lost skis in crashes on the way down the slopes of Turoa. Reesby, who came from ninth to third on the way down the Turoa mountain road — half gravel, half seal — is a promising 1500 m runner. He finished with a numb raw-looking back and a shirt that was bloodstained from chaffing. Wellington’s Sue Ritchie, the first woman, was placed nineteenth over-all in 2hr 30min 55s and nearly five hours had elapsed before the last of the 44 finishers slogged across the line.