Tracey

The club cross country championships were held at Stranraer Farm, Okaramio on Saturday afternoon. Fine weather ensured a good afternoon of racing but the course was wet underfoot and very boggy in places due to recent heavy rain. This resulted in one part of the 2 km course subsiding which left a steep drop-off for competitors to negotiate.

Amber Bendell, Hunter Bendell, Margaret Hazelwood, Kiri Johnson and Rab Rodger claimed back-to-back titles.

New-comers Henry Buunk, Helen Walshe, Keith Zanders won their first club championship titles.

Full Results and Photos (courtesy of David)

Read The Marlborough Express article here

A total of 10 club members lined up in near perfect weather conditions to take part in one of several events in the capital on Sunday morning. The half-marathon doubled as the NZ Half Marathon Championships and Marlborough Athletics was represented by Robbie Barnes and Dale Smit.

The Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2015.

Official Times and Places (Provisional Only):

Half Marathon Run (1531 finishers)

Robbie Barnes 1hr 18min 52sec. (33rd overall; 2nd M50-59; 2nd NZ Champs M50-54)

Dale Smit 1.36.09 (128th M20-39; 28th NZ Champs Men)

Will Barnes 1.39.20 (10th M00-19)

Allister Leach 1.45.26 (34th M50-59)

Steve Olsen 1.53.20 (62nd M50-59)

Half Marathon Walk (216 finishers)

Kay Leach 3hrs 02min 31sec. (103rd overall; 26th F50-59)

10km Run (1502 finishers)

James Cliff 47min 08sec. (119th overall; 15th M40-49)

Robyn Cliff 52.59 (19th F40-49)

Anna Barnes 56.08 (19th F00-19)

10km Walk (349 finishers)

Leanne Barnes 1hr 22min 44sec. (47th overall; 4th F40-49)

Provisional Results and Photos

NZ Half Marathon Champs Results

Read The Marlborough Express article here

Visitors from Motueka, Riwaka, Nelson and Masterton joined the many locals who took to the Wither Hills for the various Mount Vernon races. Sunny skies and near-perfect course conditions attracted a record turn-out of 172 competitors throughout the three events including the largest-ever fields in the Fun Run/Walk and Kids Challenge.

Jeremy McKenzie won his fourth successive title in 1hr 15min 36sec. to take overall line honours followed by Ollie Radford and Ian Thomas. Annabelle Latz won her second successive women’s title and in the process set a new course record of 1hr 27min 58sec. Suz Wood and Anna Archie finished second and third respectively.

In the 11km Fun Run/Walk, Steve Harvey who finished second in 2013 took overall line honours in a time of 53min 41sec. Jimmy Johnston was runner-up followed by Matt Loveridge. Motueka’s Kay Goodall was the first woman home in a time of 1hr 03min 46sec. followed by Magdalena Tait and Maria Voigt.

Eli Harvey headed the 33 children home to complete the Kids Challenge in a time of 9min 45sec. just ahead of Finn McKenzie and Fred Vavasour. The first girl across the finish line was Eleanor O’Connell in a time of 10min 25sec. followed by Ruby Wybourne and Maddie Large.

Sincere thanks to all competitors, volunteers, marshals and tail-end Charlies for making the event a success.

Full Results, Emily’s Photos and David’s Photos

Read The Marlborough Express article here

Despite the bitterly cold conditions more than 3,000 competitors braved the elements in the Christchurch Airport Marathon, Half Marathon and associated events on Sunday morning. Ice on the road cost Sam Wreford of Timaru the chance of breaking the marathon race record set by Tom Birnie in 1985. Lisa Hunter-Galvan won the women’s event. Callan Moody and Gabrielle O’Rourke claimed the half marathon titles.

Margaret Hazelwood won the W60-69 Age Group over the 42.2km distance and Jan Curnow finished a creditable 20th in W50-59 Age Group in the half marathon. Bill Hunter and Stuart Curnow finished within seconds of each other in the 10km run (this hasn’t escaped the club handicappers). Julie Hunter competed in the 10km walk.

Marathon (382 Finishers)

Margaret Hazelw0od 3hrs 50min 06sec. (1st W60-69)

Half Marathon Run (1,588 Finishers)

Jan Curnow 1hr 58min 29sec.

10km Run (924 Finishers)

Bill Hunter 53min 09sec.

Stuart Curnow 53min 24sec.

10km Walk (269 Finishers)

Julie Hunter 1hr 40min 29sec.

Full Results

Read The Marlborough Express article here

Despite the wet weather a large number of competitors including a number of new-comers took part in the final Taylor Dam event for the season on Saturday afternoon. The Handicap Race contested in a reverse direction over the 2km cross-country course was introduced for the first time this season in lieu of Brooklyn Shield.

Ron Adams took line honours in the 6km run while Diana Smit and Julie Hunter crossed together to win the 6km walk.

Children’s race winners included Holly Nicholson, Connor Jobe, Angus Kopua, Lucy Bendell and Hunter Bendell.

Full Results and Photos

Bruce Hillis backed up his successful Burton Cup run with a very good result in the Nelson Half Marathon on Sunday. Others who competed in the various events included Cameron Kain, Megan Kain and Michelle Fox.
Contested in cool, calm conditions overall line honours went to Kim Hogarth in a time of 1hr 12min 46sec. just six seconds ahead of Graeme Taylor. Paula Canning lead the women home to claim her ninth consecutive title with a time of 1hr 23min 45sec.
Half Marathon Run (114 finishers)
Bruce Hillis 1hr 34min 43sec. (27th overall; 7th M50-59)
Cameron Kain 1hr 39min 29sec. (35th; 7th MOpen)
Quarter Marathon Run (103 finishers)
Michelle Fox 53min 49sec. (29th overall; 2nd F35-44)
Megan Kain 1hr 04min 44sec. (66th; 8th FOpen)

Full Results