News

Yes the summer season has been and gone. We now go into the winter season starting with a pack run from Bill and Julie Hunter’s home 357 Hawkesbury Road, Blenheim at 2pm. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to get information on the run and what is happening the following weeks.
Bring a plate for everyone to share.
Whether new to Harriers or a member renewing your membership please go to the membership tab in this website. You will see how much the membership is then click on Printable form if you want to do it manually or click on the electronic form, fill it out (there are mandatory sections) then click on submit. You will get an email confirming with a specific number that relates to your input. Direct Credit money as directed and you have done it. Please contact Les McKay 5778307 if you experience problems.
See you Saturday.

Marlborough Harriers Club has one free entry to the St Clair 1/2 marathon (http://vineyardhalf.com/event-info/) to give to a current financial club member (2012-2013 financial member). Entry is in run, walk or hybrid category, and the event is on 11th May 2013. If you would like to be in the draw please email steve at solsen@callsouth.net.nz by Wednesday 13th March. Winner will be drawn at Summer Runners prizegiving at Ron’s place on Thursday 14th March. Note: winner will be expected to run in club colours.
Cheers, Steve.

Perfect weather for the Buller Marathon on Saturday, with Marlborough well represented and some personal best times recorded. Congratulations all round!

Marathon
Ron Adams, 3:37:16

Half-Marathon
Robbie Barnes, 1:18:23, 1st Male 50-59
Allister Leach, 1:39:40
Jess Barnes, 1:41:51, 3rd Female U20
Steve Olsen, 1:57:47
Emily Burgess, 1:58:42

Half-Marathon Walk
Leanne Barnes, 2:50:24
Kay Leach, 3:01:04
Barry Hyndman, 3:01:05

A few photos Here

Great article in Marlborough Express sports page on one of our own, Margaret Hazelwood. Just follow this link
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/sport/8244927/At-63-theres-no-stopping-her

Well done to everyone who competed in today’s race, tired legs and happy faces all round!

King of the Withers 2013 is:
Ian Thomas (44:10 and 1st Veteran Man)
Queen of the Withers 2013 is:
Megan Craig (48:36 and 1st Senior Woman)

1st Veteran Woman: Almuth Waechter (53:58)
1st Senior Man: Fergus Were (45:47)
1st Junior Woman: Jess Barnes (56:08)
1st Junior Man: Leathan Landon-Lane (54:50)

Richard McCallum and Judith Hyndman took the Mens and Womens walking titles respectively.

Jeremy Ham came home first in the hybrid event and Kayla Best was the first woman.

Results are now available here.

Update: The results have been updated with Business house and Married couple team results. The Marathon Farms team of Robbie Barnes, Jess Barnes and Nick Pope won the business house team event for the second year running with a combined time of 2:37:27, 10 seconds quicker than last year. Dave and Julie Grono took the married couples title with a time of 1:59:17 edging out a record field of eleven other couples teams contesting the event. Don’t forget to checkout the photos now available at digiproofs.co.nz

A bit of history before you head out on the track on 5th January 2013.
The event was first held in 1977 as the King of the Withers and contested by male runners only. In 1992 it was opened up to female runners and renamed the King and Queen of the Withers. Originally the course started in the CBD by the Post Office, went into the Wither Hills up Redwood Street and then returned to town down Scott Street. Increased traffic and housing developments meant several changes have had to be made to the course so since 2004 it has run totally within the Wither Hills Farm Park area. Further innovations saw separate male, female and walkers’ events introduced in 2003, a hybrid (walk/run) section introduced in 2009, plus business house and married couples’ teams sections.
Because of the course changes our records start at 2004.
Ian Columbus and Bob Fox organized the event from 1977 for the next 20 years. Ian confirms Dennis Patchett won the first race. It was Dennis who sowed the seed for this run while a few of the Harriers were running on the Withers for their Sunday training run of approximately 20 kms. They decided at Dennis’ insistance to cut the course in half and make it competitive open to the public.
The results with records are recorded on our website under events, King and Queen of the Withers then scroll down until you get to “previous winners and records” tab. All in there.
Overall winner 2004 was Senior Men Jason Watts 45.45, Senior Women Suzie Aviss 49.53, Vet Men Kevin Ellis 45.01 and Vet Women Firth Brown 54.46. Walker men Barry Neal 1.06.15, Women Barbara McGuire 1.27.55.
Current record holders:
Junior men Sam Hansby set 2007 48.13.
Junior Women Megan Craig set 2010 53.53.
Senior Men Daniel Hopeta set 2007 40.33.
Senior Women Andrea Hewitt set 2009 45.28.
Vet Men Phil Costley set 2012 38.55.
Vet Women Suzie Aviss set 2008 48.43.
Men walker Barry Neal set 2006 47.41.
Women walker Barbara McGuire set 2006 1.14.10.
Some very impressive names indeed.