MARATHON RACE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 2

MARATHON RACE.

« A PINE CONTEST. TnOAIPSON PROVES THE WINNER, From every point of view the Marathon race which was .held under the auspices of the Urban Pictures Co. hist night was successful. There was a large field, which included sever.il prominent long-distunue runners, whilst the weather was extremely favourable, and tho roads good. Of the thirty-one entrants all but nine faced tho starter. The course was from the Opera House, via Victoria Street to Oriental Bay, thence via Kilbirnie and Mnranui to Island Bay, and subsequently along the tram line to tho Basin Reserve, along Cambridge Terrace, and back (o the Opera House, via Victoria Street—a total estimated distance of over 12 miles. The competitors were as under :-W. B. Bennett, A. Banks, V. E. Bernard, P. J. Fitzgerald, J. H. Goodliall, P. Harvey, C. Johnson, C. Lamberg, JI. Mulcahy, C S. Mahoney, P. M'Grath, W. A. Jl'Kenzie, If Probsted, \V. Press, 'J , . C. C. Patterson, C. Rowberry, F. A. Kollo, W. G. Roberts, R. Reid, H. T, Thompson, and G. Turner. .Mulcahy was leading at Kilbirnie, with Fitzgerald close at hand. By following the tram line at the bottom of the Jlaranui Road, Ihompson, who had been two chains behind was enabled to secure the lead. He set a merry pace all the way to Island Bay, Fitzgerald and Mulcahy being his nearest attendants. Owing to an attack of stitch llulcahy at this stuge had to slacken his pace. Approaching tho rise in Rintoul Street, Thompson, who had continued in the lead, eased up considerably.. When the Athletic Park was reached I'itzgerald, who was in second place, spurted but Thompson still had plenty of "go" left m him, and kept his position in the van. I'ran the bottom of Rintoul Street to the Basin Reserve the pair were practically o.\ equal terms, lurner being third. Thompson afterwards increased the pace, and gradually drew away from Fitzgerald, eventually winning bv .iSsec., in the creditable time of lliour 13min 12scc. , , Much interest was manifested in the contest and the departure of the competitors was witnessed by a. large crowd. At various points, notably lulbirme, Jlaranui, Island Bav, and Kmtoul Street numbers assembled to watch the progress of the race, and several motor cais besides n number of horsemen and cyclists' also went over the course. Only one runner had dropped out when Maranui was reached the first dozen places being held at that stage ?f'p fo J '"'••Thompson, Mulcahy, Fitzgerald, M Grath Turner, Lamberg, Rowberry. Press Bernard who is quite a lad), Bennett, Roberts Luxford .Street was as under :-Thompson, Fitzgerald, Turner, M'Grath, Mulcahy, Lam- : berg, Bennett Rowberry, Bernard, and l<o o. Long before the runners were timed to return several hundreds had assembled m the vicinity of the Opera House. As the compel tors finished on the stage each was greeted with loud applause by the numerous patrons o< , the Picture entertainment. The prizes, which "were trophies valued at 6 guineas, 3 guineas and 1 guinea, for the contest, and 3 gnine"" 1 oiS'S^coni^t^^ H. T. Thompson, AV.A.A.C, l]i. I3 m io s P. Fitzgerald JVA.A.C, llu 13 m . mil *' G Turner, W.A.A.C., lh. ' 14m. 10s. S' W-A-A.C, lh. 16m. P. M'Grath, Cath. Y.JI.C, lh. 16m "3, M. Mulcahy, Cath. Y.M.C., lh. C W" 1?' w e ir A Y clli "? ton Harries, lh. 20m. W. Press, Wellington Harriers, Hi. 20m. 17s ixext in order came:— F. Rollo, lh. 22m. 12s. - P. Harvey, lh. 23m. 3s. ■ V. R. Bernard, lh. 23ui. 30s C. h. Mahoney, lh. 24m. 275. f • ?, ro, i % st ?< 1 . lh. 21m. 435. ,)\. &. Roberts, lh. 26m. 3sec. U Johnson, lh. 2Gm. 15s. ■ .- •-. ■ O. Rowberry v lh. 26m. 265... In connection with the contest there was'V sealed handicap, which was'as underP. Fitzgerald (9miii.) ... " , &. Turner (9min.) ... ~ C. Lamberg (lOmin.) ... , % D. Leslie; timekeepers, Messrs. A Lauren mi Crewe's * JOMS ' A " C ' Kitt °' F