THE MARATHON RACE AT AUCKLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 8 March 1909, Page 4

THE MARATHON RACE AT AUCKLAND.

[United Phess Association.] ti, xt r, AUCKLAND, Sunday. lhe New Zealand Marathon race from Howick to Auckland, a distance of 13 miles, run under the auspices of the' Auckland Amateur Athletic Clab, was decided here yesterday, in the hottest of weather. Tlio event created tremendous interest, and should do much to revive amateur ahlctics in Auckland. Of the 42 nominated 22 started, including Jl. Dickson and E. W. Shauahan, Christchurch ; M. Mulcahey and F. Wilton, Wellington; S. W. Moore, Rakaia; W. Reay, Ballarat, Victoria; and W. Wilshaw, Manchester, England. The road was dusty with numbers of loose stones, and the presence of numerous vehicles on the road made running unpleasant. The roa dwas lined with thousands of people, yhile at the Domain, where the race finished, about 5000 were present. Dickson, after leading for seven miles, laid down when still leading, finally finishing eighth. Moore at about this stage was replaced by Hill, an Ari College youth of 18, who went on and won by less than 100 yards from Moore, with L. J. Ormstein (Auckland) third, Rogers (Auckland) fourth, Shanahan fifth. The other Southern competitors to finish wero Mulcahey tenth, Wilton fifteenth. Hill covered the distance in 1 hour 18 minutes, while the sixteenth man, the last to finish, came in 31 minutes later than Hill. The scene on fhe Domain whenj Hill and Moore were finishing was one of indescribable excitement. In consequence of this race all tho cricket » matches wero postponed.