Tout retains 50-mile title

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 26

Tout retains 50-mile title

By

GLENN HASZARD

Richard Tout (Auckland) comfortably retained the Brighton Pier 50-mile road running title in Christchurch on Saturday. His winning time of shr 24min 9s was 16 minutes faster than his winning time last year. He paced himself very well, running the first 25 miles in 2hr 40min, dropping his pace by only 4min in the second 25 miles, the hardest part of the course, which follows roads around the outskirts of Christchurch. Second was Martin Hawes (Sumner), who ran what Tout described as a brilliant first-up race. Hawes got “hooked” on the idea of the ultra-distance run after his shop, the Batik Bazaar, was one of the sponsors in the event last year, and this year. He had previously run about four marathons, the best in 2hr 37min.

Peter Tutty (St Martins), who finished second to Mel Radcliffe (Bascik New Brighton) in the Buller Gorge marathon in February, set a fast early pace, taking the field of more than 34 runners through the first five miles in 29min 10s and through the 10 miles in 59 minutes, with Tout about a minute behind.

By the halfway mark Tutty’s pace began to ease. Tout moved past after 29

miles and gradually opened the gap back to Tutty. About 37 miles Tout was 16 minutes clear and Tutty was caught by Hawes, who had gradually come through the field from eighth place. He ran the first 5 miles in 32 minutes and the 10 miles in 67 minutes, then “throttled back” to run at a pace of seven minutes a mile, but still came through the field, passing Bill Baker (Christchurch), John Souter (Timaru), and Colin Dowie (North Canterbury) between half-way and 35 miles. Hawes, aged 32, had prepared himself better than most others in the field, having trained for six months with a view to doing well in the Brighton Pier 50. In his training diet were eight runs of 30 miles.

Another runner to come through the field was Lex Blair (United), who was runner-up to Souter in the Settlers Travel 100 km track race at Queen Elizabeth II Park last year and fifth in the Brighton Pier race last year. He was eight minutes behind Tutty at 37 miles and gained a minute in the next three miles, another minute between 40 and 45 miles, and a minute and a half in the last five miles, but Tutty held on courageously to retain third place. Blair was fourth, and first vet-

eran, more than 23 minutes ahead of Souter, a former titleholder of both the 50km and the 100 km.

Souter said that he ran six ultras last year as well as three marathons and conceded that he “finally cracked up.” His preparation for tne 50 miles was limited to a meagre training diet of about 70 miles a week.

Dowie, an accomplished marathon runner, had cramp in his legs after about 30 miles. He was passed by Hawes, Blair and Souter, then had to fight off a challenge from Kit Gresson (Sumner) in the last seven miles. Gresson himself was then passed by a fast finishing Dave Gorrie, who wiped over 40 minutes from the time he did last year in his first attempt, and narrowly missed catching Dowie. Twenty-five runners finished inside the time limit of nine hours set by the organisers, the Canterbury Road Running Committee. Another three finished out-, side nine hours.

Debbie Rhode (Sumner) broke her own women’s record with a time of 7:27:28, to finish fourteenth over all. It is believed to be a New Zealand record for a veteran woman (over 35). Tout will compete in the annual 100 km road race at

Pukekohe grand prix circuit at Easter, but said that he would “just run it,” then set himself for the Sydney-to-Melbourne six-day race if he can get permission to compete as an amateur. Debbie Rhode may also run another ultra distance event this year. She is considering running in the Laramie-to-Cheyene 50-mile race, which is run at a mile above sea level, in the Rocky Mountains area of Wyoming. Results.—

Tout 5:24:09,1; Hawes 5:47:39,

2; Tutty 5:55:35, 3; Blair 6:00:03, 4; Souter 6:23:50, 5; Dowie 6:39:21, 6;. Gorrie 6:39:50, 7; Gresson 6:43:01, 8; B. Donnelly (North Canterbury) 6:53:08, 9; C. Martin 6:56:07, 10; G. Sword (North Canterbury) 7:00:55, 11; D. Kennedy 7:07:28, 12; J. Shivas (Toe H) 7:09:23, 13; Rhode 7:27:28 and women’s record, 14; P. Mason (Rover) 7:36:05,15; B. Connell 7:36:34, 16; R. Waters (Rover) 7:41:14,17; D. Cameron 7:41:55, 18; R. Connor (Rover) 7:50:20, 19; M. Lawless (Rover) 7:54:10, 20; P. Jackson (Rover) 7:56:10, 21; M. Callaghan (Westport) 8:00:18, 22; P. Wolden (University) 8:42:59, 23; G. Priest (Toe H) 8:46:06, 24; F. Schwaiger 8:50:47, 25.