Port Hills ultra distance to Richard Tout

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 16

Port Hills ultra distance to Richard Tout

By

JOHN DREW

The noted Auckland ultradistance athlete, Richard Tout, aged 36, won the annual K B Port Hills 100 km for the second consecutive year on Saturday, with a time of 8:40:36. John Souter (Timaru), winner of the 100 km track race only seven weeks ago, was second in B:s6rf) to take the veteran (over 40) title. Graeme Sword (North Canterbury) was third in 8:59:0. Colin Martin was fourth, Mike Taylor fifth and Jim Young sixth. While Tout showed a superiority in pace on the day, there was a dramatic battle between Souter and Sword who was gaining on Souter in the final fifth of the distance. But Souter uncorked a fine burst of pace over the last skm to peat Sword by. a three-minute margin. The annual K B Port Hills 100 km, formerly ; the Symon and Lowther race, held this year for the eighth year, is recognised as one of the toughest ultra-distance events anywhere. I No other such events in the Commonwealth can present such a brutal andire-

lentless series of steeply testing ups and downs. And sso it has become rightfully recognised as a test of some heroism for all who have completed it In spite of this formidable reputation a record proportion of starters finished on Saturday of the 29 starters who faced the starter, and race founder, Don Cameron, at 6 a.m. in Cathedral Square on Saturday 21 got through. The winner, Auckland’s Richard Tout, like all the other finishers, got a rousing round of applause at the finish outside the Ocean View Hotel at Governor’s Bay. Brian Thompson, aged 47, one of several Lyttelton watersiders who are noted ultra-distance athletes, has set a record of seven finishes out of eight starts since he ran the inaugural race in 1977. Souter has finished five times, including his win in 1982. All finishers appeared remarkably fresh on Saturday in spite of buffeting from violent, storm . force noriwest gusts during the final 15km section on the Summit Road from Evans Pass to the Sign of the Kiwi.

Some on bicycles,. to give refreshment support to the runners, were blown off their machines. Most times were slower, partly because of this battering. It was heartening to see the larger number of runners who treated the course with the respect it deserves by restraining their pace in the first third of the distance. After a circuit of- both parks, Tout was about 30 metres head of Souter when they returned to Cathedral Square. Their time was about 33min for the Bkm. Souter later took the lead and was ahead on the uphill stretch towards the Sign of the Kiwi. Tout later increased his lead. He was about Bmin in front at half way near the Sign of the Bellbird with a time of 3:39:36. Both Tout and Souter went through the 42.2 km marathon distance in about 2:55:0. About 70km, outside the Governor’s Bay hotel, Tout had increased his lead by about 17 minutes with Sword about 29 minutes further back. The race maintained its reputation as one of the

most scenically beautiful ultra-distance circuits anywhere. Warm, perfect weather, beautiful garden plantings and a lovely view up the harbour to the heads helped make Governor’s Bay an ideal setting for the finish.

Tout lost some time when bouts of cramp stretched him out, face downward, on the road with only about 2km to go on the downhill section leading to Governor’s Bay. His capable team of handlers massaged his legs to get him going again. A few minutes later Tout waved and laughed as he ran strongly up the slope to the brightly decorated finishing chute. Officials were quick to give him a deck chair and he smartly downed a can of lager while he received congratulations. Tout relaxed at full length in warm sunlight on the lawn with friends outside the hotel and then returned to the finishing point to help cheer on arrivals in the minor placings. The excellent organisation of the race was a credit to the controlling group from the Sumner Road Running Club. A strong team

from the Citizens Band Radio organisation did their usual fine job in monitoring the race. After the Hagley Park circuit the course was to the intersection of Dyers Pass and Hackthorne Roads to a 25km loop through the Halswell area and back through Cashmere to the Sign of the Kiwi, to Gebbies Pass through Governor’s Bay and Lyttelton, up Evans Pass and back along the Summit Road to the Kiwi and down the Governor’s Bay hill to finish outside the Ocean View Hotel. Results:— Richard Tout (Auckland) 8:40.36, 1; John Souter (Timaru) 8:56.0, 2; Graeme Sword (North Canterbury) 8:59.0, 3; Colin Martin 9:26.0, 4; Mike Taylor 9:49.48, 5; Jim Young 9:54.24, 6; Robin Howe 10:14.56, 7; Bryan Connell 10:18.05, 8; Dave Gorrie 10:34.48, 9; Mel Opie 10:37.10, 10; Colin FarreU, 11:13.10, 11; Chris Adams 11:16.22, 12; Ray Chinnery 11:46.01, 13; Max CaUaghan (Westport) .11:47.00, 14; Tim Lang 11:53.07, 15; John Baxter 12:02.36, 16; Rob Grant 12:16.55, 17; Rod Connor and Mike Lawless 12:28.35, 19; Fred Schwaiger 12:59.04, 20; Brian Thompson 13:29.55, 21.