Tom Birnie wins Winstone marathon

Press, 5 November 1984, Page 38

Tom Birnie wins Winstone marathon

PA Invercargill Canterbury’s Tom Birnie pulled away from his closest rival in the final stages to win the fifteenth annual Winstone marathon in Invercargill on Saturday. The race also celebrated the first marathon run in New Zealand, which was over the same RivertonInvercargill course as the Winstone, 75 years ago. Conditions were perfect for the race on Saturday with early mist and the sun breaking through after about 32km.

Bimie’s winning time was 2hrs 22min 31 sec, 12sec ahead of John Campbell of Invercargill. The pair ran together until about 10km from the finish, when Birnie lifted the pace and created enough room to ensure he would be untroubled in recording a victory and taking out the $2OOO training grant offered for first place. Birnie’s time was the third fastest recorded in the 15-year history of the race.

After the race, Birnie shrugged off his win with a

nonchalant “It was just like any other marathon.” But unlike other, marathons this fifteenth Winstone was closely fought. For most of the race Birnie was partnered by Campbell. They raced through the halfway mark in Ihr ISmin. At Lorneville Birnie made his break, which proved decisive. Third was Mike Buist (Otago University), in 2hr 32min 33sec. The first veteran home was Derek Turnbull of Invercargill who was ninth over all. Amazingly Turnbull returned the same time he logged in 1956 — 2hr 43min 36 sec. The first woman home was Angela Vergee of Winton in 3hr Bmin. Conditions were ideal when Invercargill’s Mayor, Mrs Eve Poole, started the race at Riverton at 8.30 a.m. By the end of the race, however, the temperature had climbed to 24deg and the slower runners found the going trying.