London to Sydney Marathon

5th June - 4th July 2004

Day 30 - Port Macquarie to Sydney

AN ALL BLACK WHITEWASH - THE KIWIS CLEAN UP

Joe McAndrew and Murray Cole stormed to victory in the London Sydney Marathon with their two teammates' Hondas in neat formation behind them to scoop the team prize as well. It was a hugely impressive clean sweep for the team that Joe had spent two years creating and nurturing.

Second place went to Mike Montgomery and Roy Wilson and third was claimed by Shane Murland and John Benton.

It was without doubt the most impressive display of teamwork that anyone can remember in motor sport with three identical Honda Integras cruising to the finish in line astern.

For Joe it was his second marathon victory – his first was the Midnight Sun to Red Sea event in 2002. The other team members were all marathon first timers, which speaks volumes for their achievement.

The last two gravel stages of the event were a great spectacle for the weekend spectators who had turned out to cheer the survivors on their last few hundred kms into the finish.

Fourth place went to ex-pat Kiwi Graham Lorimer and Brit Nick Starkey in their Toyota Corolla. For Lorimer it was, as he said, "one place higher than I achieved in 1993," and for Starkey it was his third London-Sydney finish.

Fifth place was claimed by Kiwis Ian Begg and Allan Dippie in their Corolla giving Kiwis the top five places in the event. An outstanding achievement in an event where top drivers from six countries were represented.

The leading classic was Anthony Ward and Mark Solloway in their Escort in sixth place, both of them on their second London-Sydney.

Early leader Jimmy McRae who had lost two days with a blown head gasket and incurred hefty penalties kept charging and recorded times to win the final two stages.

Of the 49 stages McAndrew won a stunning 28 of them with Jimmy claiming 12 for Scotland. Montgomery took 4, Murland 3, and Ward and Callinan one apiece.

Check out daily reports:

5th June to 4th July 2004 day by day

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT LONDON-SYDNEY MARATHON………….