News

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

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