Running attempt

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 36

Running attempt

By

GLENN HASZARD

Richard Tout, the “king” of ultra-distance running in New Zealand, will attempt his third win in the Port Hills 100 km road-running race on Saturday. Tout, an Aucklander, aged 38, came south in 1983 to win what was then known as the Port Hills KB Gold 100 km race. His time was 7hr 36min. He returned the next year to retain his title, and in the same year and last year won the Brighton Pier 50-mile race. The race this year is called the Swan Light Port Hills 100 km fun run, and is being organised for the first time by the newly-formed NewZealand Ultra Runners’ Association. Tout holds the Tasman 24hour running record of 247 km and the 100-mile record of 12hr 54min.

In September he ran 7:11 for what was thought to be 100 km. On checking it was found that he had run 400 m short of the distance. That run was on a track, but if he is in that sort of form he could threaten the Port Hills course record of 7:16:37 set by the former Christchurch

runner, Roger Alcorn, in 1978. The 100 km will start in Cathedral Square at 6 a.m. The runners will skirt the Cashmere Hills to Tai Tapu then return arid run on the Summit Road, past the Sign of the Bellbird, down Gebbies Pass, through Lyttelton, and along the Summit Road looking down on Christchurch,, finishing at Governors Bay. About 40 runners are expected to start, with late entries being accepted on the day. For those with less training behind them, there is a 50km race, starting half-way through the 100 km course, at the Sign of the Bellbird, at 10.30 a.m. There' is also a 100 km relay, with teams of four competing. Six teams had entered by early this week. The teams will start at 7 a.ml Tout’s main rival is expected to be the veteran Timaru runner, John Souter, who has won the race and the Brighton Pier race in previous years and has been a consistent major place-getter in years when he has not won the races.