Victory for Howe in 24-hour run

Press, 24 October 1989, Page 38

Victory for Howe in 24-hour run

A southerly change after 12 hours of more temperate weather made it difficult for competitors in the Ultrasport 24-hour.run at Timaru at the week-end. The pre-race favourite, Neville Mercer (Auckland), set a blistering early pace and was on target to run over 200 km, but his knee gave way and he had to withdraw after 14 hours, completing 144.2 km. An hour earlier Bob Dickison (Sumner), also had to withdraw, after completing 106 km, well short of the 180 km he set in the John Drew anniversary 24-hour run in Christchurch last year. This left the experienced Robin Howe (Christchurch) and the very inexperienced Dayle Steele (Anglican), aged 20, to fight for the lead. Howe eventually covered the most distance, clocking up 187.6 km, just 400 m further than iri Christchurch last year, when he was equal third with Timaru’s John Souter.

Souter himself could not run at the week-end because of injury, but he helped prepare the event and was bn hand to give practical assistance to those who needed it. Steele ran courageously to take second place, completing 168.27 km, with Northland’s Tony Trevaglia, aged

46, third with 156.85 km. John Drew, aged 76, maintained a steady pace, resting only twice for 15 minutes each and finished seventh with 102.76 km. The run was held on the grass track of the Caledonian Ground, on a 350 m circuit. The race began at 6 p.m. on Saturday night and when night fell the floodlighting was turned on. The runners and supporters had tents to shelter in when they needed them. Only one woman entered. She was Margaret Howe, wife of Robin, the winner of the event. She completed 76.69 km, just 7km short of the distance she completed last year. Results.— R. Howe, 187.6 km, 1; D. Steele, 168.2 km, 2; T. Travaglia, 156.8 km, 3; N. Mercer, 144.2 km, 4; W. Cuthers (Christchurch), 123.5 km, 5; R. Dickison, 106.7 km, 6; J. Drew 102.7 km, 7; M. Howe, 76.6 km, 8.