Records Fields & Close Racing In SBS Marathon

 
Records Fields & Close Racing In SBS Marathon

Christchurch’s SBS Marathon Event celebrated its 27th year with record entries, brilliant weather and top class racing.

It was a spectacular site, the scene of more than 4000 runners and walkers leaving the Christchurch Town Hall for a scenic tour of the Garden City. In the 27-year history of the vent that was inspired by the 1974 Commonwealth Games marathon, this was the first time the field had exceeded 4000 entrants.

Watching this superb sight was the daughter of the man, England’s Ian Thompson, who won that historic race. His daughter Clare, a tourist who thought she’d visit Christchurch during the week of the race, was visibly moved that her father’s victory more than three decades ago could inspire an event that in turn was so inspiring to thousands of others.

Auckland’s Ben Ruthe was certainly inspired. The four-minute miler held on to the front of a classy half marathon field, withstanding attacks from several runners, before unleashing his track speed in the home straight.

The race was meant to be the Dale Warrandar show. The Auckland runner had dominated the SBS Half Marathon in 2006 and 2004, while New Zealand duathlon champion Mark Bailey was also seeded ahead of Ruthe after his 2005 win in the SBS Half Marathon. Auckland’s Scott Winton and Christchurch’s Matt Ingram were also in on the game and all four runners had a go at rubbing out Ruthe’s expected finishing speed. But none could.

In the end it came down to the 400m long home straight down Kilmore Street to the Christchurch Town Hall finish. Warrander was already gone, withdrawing with a shin injury. Bailey showed his cards first, then Winton, then Bailey again, until with just 200m to run Ruthe finally unleashed the expected after-burners to streak away for an impressive win.

The 26 year old sprinted across the line just one second ahead of Winton and Bailey, with Winton coming with a last minute effort to claim second in the last few strides. Matt Ingram followed just two seconds later, holding out a late charge from Englishman-turned-Cantab Matt Smith.

Ben Ruthe was elated to nab hi s first major half marathon win since moving up from the middle distances. But he was more interested in how his wife Jess was faring not too many minutes behind.

Jess Ruthe had finished second for the last two years in a row t the SBS Half Marathon. In 2005 it was behind a New Zealand record performance from Auckland’s Nina Rillstone and last year it was behind Australian Kate Smyth. Smyth was back again, but Ruthe was determined to move up to the top spot, which after her husband’s exciting victory would have given their family it best day yet in the sport.

But it was no to be. Smyth, an Australian Commonwealth Games marathon rep, was just too strong. She cleared away shortly after 10k and although Ruthe stayed close, when they hit Hagley Park with 3k to go Smyth found even more strength and romped away to win in 1hrs 13min 08secs.

Smyth’s win clipped a few seconds from her win of a year ago and gave her a new best time to boot. Ruthe came through in 1hrs 14min 51secs, with Auckland veteran Tracey Clissold claiming third.

In contrast to the classy displays by he half marathon winners, Kiwi Commonwealth Games marathoner Craig Kirkwood did it the hard way in the SBS Full Marathon. Kirkwood lived up to his pre-race favouritism but his own body and defending champion Jeremy Horner almost got him in the end.

Kirkwood came to Christchurch hoping to qualify for the world championships in Japan later this year. But after 42k it was all the Tauranga runner could do just to finish.

He cleared out shortly after the start, leaving Australian champion Jeremy Horne to spend the day chasing. Horner later admitted to running his own race at an even pace, which was something that Kirkwood later wished he’d done.

The 32 year old floated through halfway in a shade over 1hr 10min and looked capable of lifting the tempo to nab the 2hr 18min he needed to qualify for the world champs. But somewhere around the 32k mark Kirkwood met the marathon’s fabled wall.

With 10k left to run Kirkwood was fading, but with a 3min cushion over the Australian defending champion he appeared to have things covered. But with 3k left to run the leader’s body almost gave way as he wobbled for several strides before being forced to take a walk.

Kirkwood’s race might well have been over here, but second placed Jeremy Horne was having his own troubles. Between 25k and 30k Horne had been closing Kirkwood down, but shortly after he started suffering legs cramps and was forced to nurse his legs to the finish.

Meanwhile, back up front Kirkwood’ walk break had given him a second win of sorts and in a determined display of gutsy running he wobbled as hard as he could to the finish, breaking the tape in first place before collapsing to the ground.

Kirkwood stopped the clock at 2hrs 26min 17secs, but he was still lying on the ground when Horner crossed the line 70secs later. The defending champion was disappointed to come so close but pleased to hold together another classy performance on the Christchurch course.

Less than a minute further back, Sumner’s Martin Lukes gave locals something to cheer with third place. Behind him, 51-year-old Gavin Stevens outran a large group of younger runners to claim fourth. Last year in the SBS Marathon Stevens, a former Olympic cyclist, clocked the fastest time in the world for a 50 year old. This year he claimed fourth place with a time 20secs faster to prove that age is never a barrier.

Dunedin’s Sarah Chisnall also illustrated age is no barrier, but in opposite fashion. In her third marathon in nine months, the 23-year on Dunedinite proved the marathon isn’t just the realm of experienced runners when she romped away from a strong women’s field to claim the SBS Marathon.

Chisnall cleared out early, passing through halfway 4min ahead of Auckland’s Fleur Bromley. But whereas Bromley faded to just hold on the second place, Chisnall was still full of running when she crossed the line with a new personal best time of 2hrs 43min 19secs. Quarter of a hour passed before an exhausted Bromley crossed the line in second, just 90secs ahead of Aucklanders Tracey Trass and Garbitashri Webster, and North Canterbury’s Tracey Crossley.

In other races, Richard Olsen of Christchurch won the associated 10km event in 30min 12secs from Brett Tingay. Kirsty Morris of Dunedin won the women's 10km in 36min 29secs from Sydney's Greta Truscott. Christchurch’s Eric Saxby and Greymouth’s Kimi Johnsen dominated the Half Marathon walk. The 10k walk was won overall by Invercargill’s Jacq Brown.

Nicholas Findlay and Clara Todd beat almost 500 other kids in the 2k Kids Mara’Fun. Christchurch’s Graeme Condon showed there was life in old limbs when the 50-year-old former world record holder won the wheelchair full marathon. Timaru’s Jonathan Nelson once again dominated the wheelchair half marathon.

A record field of more than 4050 participants, enjoyed brilliant blue skies for the 27th anniversary of the Christchurch event. The new two-lap marathon course proved a hit with runners and spectators alike. Full marathoners enjoyed the added kilometres around the scenic Avon River and Hagley Park, and the extra spectator support of passing through more residential neighbourhoods.

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