By J. Brock (FINN)
Sir Ranuph Fiennes and Dr. Mike Stroud run into Stanley along Reservior Road.
Sir Ranuph Fiennes and Dr. Mike Stroud have flown to the Falklands from Chile today, landing at Mount Pleasant at 0930 and beginning their "Antarctic" marathon at Fitzroy Ridge at 1100. It took the pair 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach Stanley and another 40 minutes to run through the streets to complete the required miles.
Finished! Children held out a red tape to mark the end of the "Antarctic" marathon.
For both, the marathon ended at Christ Church Cathedral where children from the Infant Junior School, supporters, H. E. the Governor Mr. Howard Pearce, and a media contingent met them.
Sir Ranuph and Dr. Stroud in aid of the British Heart Foundation are running the marathon series – Seven Continents in Seven Days. Sir Ranuph underwent a heart by-pass operation four months ago and is well enough to complete the course. However, Dr. Mike Stroud has with him a defibrillator – just in case.
Engine trouble and poor weather conditions prevented the team from going to King George Island, Antarctica and the Santiago venue was also a non starter. In place of the Santiago marathon, a run by the Magellan Straits sufficed. Next marathon will take place in Sydney, Australia and the series will finish in New York on November 2nd.
It is expected that the Gulf-stream aircraft carrying the runners will depart MPA at 1700 LMT today.
H. E. the Governor Mr. Howard Pearce welcoms Sir Ranuph to Stanley after his marathon.
