by Andy Docherty
An Inaugural 50 Mile Track Race was held in Adelaide on Sunday 24th July commencing at 7a.m. with a cut off time of 9 hours – the race had the support of the S.A. Vets.
Fifteen out of the 17 entrants, including 4 women faced the Starter’s gun on what at first appeared to be an ideal morning for running, except for a tricky gusty wind which didn’t know from which direction to blow – it wasn’t too bad at first, but it was to play havoc during the race. Don Parker, one of the S.A. Vets stalwart and prominent athletes started the race and from the gun it was apparent that at least two if not more of the runners, although novices over the distance, were going to give the South Australian record a bit of a Push.
Tony McCool, running without a vest led the field followed by Steve Dunn, at twentyone the youngest competitor in the race. Tony is an excellent runner who recently won the S. Australian Vets Marathon just outside the State Vets Championship time and twice set a new record for the Vets 10K. both on the track and on the road. Steve for all his youth has a good ultra-distance background, having competed in 24 Hour Races, the Inaugural 48 Hour Run in Melbourne and then shortly after that race, took part in the 6 Day Ultra-Trialthlon. Both these runners completed 37 laps in the first hour, followed by Roger Stuart with 32 and Don Cox with 31. Among the females Sue Worley with 28 laps led Helen O’Connor 27 laps and first time Ultra Runner Helen Barnes, looking good on 26 laps. The rest of the field was still close and looking relaxed and enjoying the experience.
By the second hour McCool with 73 laps was one lap clear of Dunn on 72 laps. Stuart was 8 laps further back with one lap on Don Cox who was on 62. Worley at this time on 58 laps was leading O’Connor on 52 and Barnes still there on 51. Kaven Dedman who had •been battling a ‘flu bug all week called it a day with 43 laps completed.
The Marathon was reached by McCool on 2.56.20 and by this time dunn had dropped back a little passing the marathon in 3.06.18, less than 15 minutes behind came Stuart and Don Cox following less than a minute behind him. Helen O’Connor who had passed Sue Worley at the 21 mile mark now passed the marathon in 4 hours 11 minutes. Helen Barnes was now in second place with her marathon time of 4.23.08 and Sue Worley following two minutes further back. Tony Ashwell had dropped out with a crook knee which he quite possibly should never have run with.
Nevertheless he had covered 20!z miles in a time of 3 hours 12 minutes. Max Kitto with his 3.35.37 marathon was running steady and Graham Stenner whose previous 50 miler was on the road in Melbourne doing it casually in 3.52.21. Murray Cox, no relation to Don and whose running history was only two marathons, but whose ambition is the Sydney to Melbourne Race, passed hi.; marathon in 3.56.33 and our old campaigner Ross Martin two miniutes behind that. These were followed by Max GriRuol who was now going beyond the marathon for the first time and Marilyn McCartney who always seems so relaxed when she must be suffering as much as anyone else.

McCool still held the lead at 50 K with a time of 3.42.03, but Dunn was still in there with a time of 3.55.33 and Don Cox closing the gap covering his 50K in 4.03.42 and Stuart a little more than 6 minutes behind in 4.10.10. Max Kitto was now coming into contention passing the 50K in 4.16.55 and Graham Stenner showing his steadiness and determination in passing the mark with 4.39.24 on the clock. Ross Martin less than 100% fit was next in 4.47.18, followed by Murray Cox in 4.54.28. Murray by now was beginning to learn what ultra running was about and although enjoying the experience was showing signs of suffering .
Helen O’Connor was still first among the women passing 50K in 5.07.22 and Sue Worley had regained second spot less than seven,„ minutes adrift. Max Griguol followed in 5.24.22 then Helen Barnes 5.38.03 and Marilyn bringing. up theIrear witI 6′.04.56.
McCool was having problems from the 50K mark and was now walking and stopping and stretching to try and get over what was ailing him, but decided discretion was the better part of valour and dropped out after completing 34.3/4 miles, while still in the lead. Don Cox was the next to fall by the wayside completing 35.3/4 miles. Burning sensations in his foot and toes made it impossible to continue. His namesake, Muray Cox was in a whole lot of trouble but managed to struggle on for the time being.
Stephen Dunn doing 10 miniute miles with sheer consistency carried on his merry way leaving Stuart and Kitto fighting it out for the second spot; Stuart with an ever decreasing edge until the37th mile, when Kitto went ahead and then held on to end his race a good 6 minutes clear leaving Stuart to be satisfied with third spot. Graham Stenner took out fourth position followed by Ross Martin, then came Helen O’Connor 9;4 minutes ahead of Sue Worley who was the last of the field to complete the 50 miles.
Max Griguol almost made 47 miles when the gun went off to signal the end of the race with Helen Barnes almost completing 46 miles and Marilyn McCartney with a little over 45 miles. All three having hung in there for the full nine hours. Murray Cox having completed 45.3/4 miles just couldn’t hang on and regretfully called it a day with just 39 minutes to go.
David Standeven, the top Ultra Distance Runner in South Australia presented the trophies, bringing this first ever 50 Mile Track event to a suitable conclusion. It was generally agreed that this would be held annually; that only 17 people entered could be attributed to a new release inadvertantly saying the race was only for veterans and the short lead time from when it was first mooted that a 50 Mile Race would be-held until the actual event. This was a learning experience for all of us and I would like to thank all of the people who helped make it the success it was and particularly Don Parker for the benefit of his experience and advice without which one or two holes may have appeared in the organisation and of course the S.A. Vets, without whose backing and support the event just could not have happened.

Tags: Australia, Ultra history

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Tags: Australia, Ultra history