News

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.

Marlborough Harrier Club wish all its members, friends and Associates a Merry Christmas with family and friends and may 2013 bring you all good health and a succesful running and/or walking year.
King and Queen of the Withers: 5th January 2013. Look at the course description on the events tab and take a virtual tour of the course. There is a link on this website that you will be able to print off an entry form. Complete it and bring with you on the day. See you there!

Well after all your training, hard slog and sweat, it is done. Congratulations to all competitors no matter what distance or result. Just letting yourself do it is a big ask. Thanks to all our volunteers that assisted the organizers and getting the Marlborough Harrier Club name out there. Next project: King and Queen of The Withers? The Buller? By now you have got over the pain of Saturday saying ‘never again’ Of course you will! Some great results and close finishes in all events:

Marathon
Philip Sim	3:24:25	1st Male 50-59
Paul Gunningham	3:25:12	2nd Male 50-59
Nicky Cameron-Dunn	3:40:55	1st Female 40-49
Michelle Harris	3:58:45	3rd Female 40-49
Cara Shirley*	5:32:39	6th Female 30-39

*Limped through the pain of knee injury to complete her first marathon, well done Cara.

Half Marathon Run
Robbie Barnes	1:20:09	1st Male 40-49 (5th overall)
Ian Thomas	1:20:09	2nd Male 40-49 (6th overall)
Tom Burgess	1:34:33	9th Male 30-39
Alistair Leach	1:40:31	8th Male 50-59
Brent McKay	1:41:55	16th Male 30-39
Michelle Fox	1:54:38	4th Female 40-49

10k Run
Dale Smit	38:42	1st Male 20-29 (1st overall)

5k Run
Jess Barnes	23:01	1st Female 19 and Under (3rd Overall)
Simon Ridder	28:07	2nd Male 20-29
Anna Barnes	30:35	3rd Female 19 and Under

10k Walk
Leanne Barnes	1:16:21	2nd Female 40-49 (5th Overall)

Full results          Emily’s photos     David’s photos       Official photos ($$)

While some travelled to Nelson for the Rabbit Island Rampage, Ron Adams and Cara Shirley contested the Auckland Half Marathon where competitors were greated with calm and sunny conditions. A total of 7,129 finishers completed the 21.1km run.
Ron finished in 1hr 42min 20sec, 603rd overall and 45th (out of 369) in the M45-49 category.
Cara finished in 2hrs 5sec, 2,357th overall and 369th (out of 1,598) in the F00-34 category.
The marathon event doubled as the New Zealand Marathon Championships. Australian Rowan Walker won the full marathon title in a very quick time of 2hrs 24min finishing just ahead of New Zealanders Scott Winton and Tony Payne.

Race Report

Results

The weather held off for those who competed in the Rabbit Island Rampage on Saturday. A small contingent from the Marlborough Harrier Club competed in the events and some very good times were posted.
In the half marathon run Robbie Barnes showed his class finishing third overall and first in the Masters Men. Robbie’s time of 1hr 22min 53sec was just four minutes slower than Simon Leaning who took overall lines honours. Ryan Smith ran a respectable 1hr 40min 16sec to finish 14th overall and 7th in the Open Mens, just 49 seconds ahead of Jess Barnes who was the first Open Woman home.
Leanne Barnes competed in the 10km walk and was the second woman home finishing  in a time of 1hr 17min 16sec. Anna Barnes contested the 5km run and ran a very respectable 27min 08sec to finish 8th overall.

Results