News

The annual Queen Charlotte Relay was contested by 41 running teams and 3 walking teams on Saturday afternoon. Beginning in steady rain at the Waitohi Domain in Picton the relay wove a course through Queen Charlotte Drive to finish outside the Havelock Hotel in fine weather.
Despite near-perfect conditions in the second half of the race, the course record of 1 hour and 50 minutes was never threatened.
Teams from Marlborough, Wellington and Nelson were entered with the latter dominating the top places throughout most of the grades.
Overall line honours went to the Athletics Nelson Pretenders team in a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 19 seconds, more than three minutes ahead of the Athletics Nelson Senior Men’s team. The Marlborough Vets team finished third overall less than one minute further back.
The major spot prize, a bike kindly donated by AvantiPlus Blenheim was won by Hugh Neil competing for the visiting Athletics Nelson Social Team, Shades of Awesome. The Crossfit Bootcamp prizes were won by local competitors Anna Archie and Linda Le Sueur.
Junior Men:
Athletics Nelson 1st (2:12:28) – Angus Weymss, William Wallace, Tom Somerville, Thomas Littleworth, Kalani Sheridan
Senior Men:
Athletics Nelson Pretenders 1st (1:59:19) – Simon Leaning, Chris Mardon, Matt Lambert, Hayden McLaren, Simon Mardon  Athetics Nelson 2nd (2:02:47), Marlborough Harriers 3rd (2:27:30)
Senior Women:
Athletics Nelson 1st (2:21:23) – Jess Martin, Sophie Smith,  Sami Jordan, Bridie Edwards, Beth Versey  AvantiPlus Blenheim Flyers 2nd (2:38:01), Go Girls 3rd (2:41:55)
Veteran Men:
Marlborough Vets 1st (2:03:33) – Jeremy McKenzie, Robbie Barnes, Ian Thomas, Billy Hebberd, John Kennedy  AvantiPlus Flyers 2nd (2:08:29), Athletics Nelson Fast Masters 3rd (2:08:47)
Veteran Women:
Waimea 1st (2:45:53) – Dallas Ward, Liz Coke, Robyn Deane, Odette Llewellyn, Fran Kerse The RaRR’s 2nd (3:20:39)
Social Teams:
Can’t Wait for a Beer 1st (2:21:53) – Brendon Crequer, Andy Leonard, Matt Newbury, Kimble Rawson, Marina Bounocoro Victoria Green 2nd (2:22:16), Tussocks 3rd (2:27:17)
Walking Teams:
Athletics Nelson Oh Bugger 1st (3:56:30) – Eric Verstappen, Peter Hague, Meryl Hague, Peter Hague, Eric Verstappen Waimea Walkers 2nd (4:06:14), Marlborough Harriers 3rd (4:52:00)
Fastest Lap times – Senior Men:
1st Lap – Sam MacKay-Wright (19:32); 2nd Lap – Chris Mardon (28:00); 3rd Lap – Rowan Hooper (25:44); 4th Lap – Hayden McLaren (20:36); 5th Lap – Jared Lautenslager (22:31)Fastest Lap times – Senior Women:
1st Lap – Jess Martin (21:57); 2nd Lap – Di Cooper (34:59); 3rd Lap – Sami Jordan(32:26); 4th Lap – Bridie Edwards (25:02); 5th Lap – Beth Versey (25:33)
Fastest Lap time – Veteran Men:
1st Lap – Jeremy McKenzie (18:55); 2nd Lap – Robbie Barnes (30:11); 3rd Lap – Brian Kemp (29:01); 4th Lap – Billy Hebberd (21:53); 5th Lap – Jeremy McKenzie (21:59)Fastest Lap times – Veteran Women:
1st Lap – Dallas Ward (25:41); 2nd Lap – Liz Coke (39:20); 3rd Lap – Robyn Deane (35:20), Odette Llewellyn (33:21); 5th Lap – Fran Kerse (31:41)
Thanks to everyone who helped make the day a success and hope to see you again next year.

Provisional Results

Photos (courtesy of David Smit)

Read the Marlborough Express article here

Check out the Athletics Nelson You Tube Video here

Near perfect conditions greeted the runners and walkers competing in the Fairhall Road Race on Saturday. The third to last event on the official calendar for the 2014 season was held on the Ben Morven Circuit.

 

 

Inclement weather greeted competitors at Grovetown on Saturday for the club road champs.

Robbie Barnes and Kiri Johnson won the senior grades. Jeremy McKenzie, Rab Rodger, Margaret Hazelwood and Robyn Cliff took the veteran titles. Junior winners were Finn McKenzie, Amber Bendell, Sam Hamilton and Fred Vavasour. Emily Burgess won the 5 km walk.

The veteran men also competed for the Guerin Trophy which is decided by way of a sealed handicap. The winner will be announced at the end of season prize-giving.

Full Results and Photos (courtesy of David)

Read the Marlborough Express article here

Robbie Barnes, Kevin Ellis and Will Barnes competed in the Tasman Cross Country Championships held at the Maitai Golf Club in Nelson over the weekend. The event which doubled as the Club Championship for both Athletics Nelson and Waimea Harriers was contested in fine, warm conditions.

Robbie covered the 8 km Masters Men’s course in a time of 30.32 while Kevin finished in 33.32. Will contested the 10 km Senior Men’s race finishing in 44.35.

Robbie will compete in the NZ Cross Country Championships in Christchurch on 9th August.

Full Results

Read the Nelson Mail article here

The annual time trial was contested on Saturday afternoon on a mixture of gravel and sealed roads on the outskirts of Renwick. The times recorded assist the club handicappers (who like beer and chocolate) leading into the road racing portion of the calendar.

Winners in the junior grades were Amber Bendell, Luke Jones and Sam Hamilton. Keith Zanders headed home the main field in the 5 km followed by Dale Smit. Wayne Gee was the first walker home.

Full Results and Photos (courtesy of David)

Read the Marlborough Express article here

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