The annual Queen Charlotte Relay was contested by 45 running teams and 4 walking teams on Saturday. Beginning at the Waitohi Domain, Picton the relay wove a course through the picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive to finish outside the Havelock Hotel.
Wet weather throughout much of the race meant that the course record of 1 hour and 50 minutes was never threatened.
Teams from Marlborough, Christchurch, Nelson and Wellington were entered.
Overall line honours went to the Athletics Nelson Open Mens team in a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 12 seconds; more than a minute ahead of the Victoria Gold team from Wellington. Bounce With Us was third overall a further five minutes back.
The major spot prize, a bike kindly donated by AvantiPlus Blenheim was won by Kate Gaudin, competing for the local CrossFit Womens team. 
Junior Men:
Athletics Nelson 1st (2:14:06) – Luke Kelly, Allister Meffan, Tom Sommerville, Jared Lautenslager, Angus Weymss
Junior Women:
Athletics Nelson 1st (2:33:45) – Beth Versey, Kirsten Walker, Sami Jordan, Sophie Smith, Libby Malthius
Senior Men:
Athletics Nelson 1st (1:59:12) – Thomas Andersen, Josh Barry, Jeff Lautenslager, Hugo Lawrence, Mike Lowe
Victoria Gold 2nd (2:00:41), Bounce With Us 3rd (2:05:15)
Senior Women:
The Fun Running Five 1st (2:34:09) – Anna Gellatly, Hannah Maher, Annabelle Latz, Mary Lister, Jo Hawker
You Got Chicked 2nd (2:44:28), Waimea Senior Women 3rd (2:50:58)
Veteran Men:
Waimea College Ultimate Warriors 1st (2:19:06) – Ian Trice, Peter Versey, Nathan Chippendale, Tim Wright, Andrew Ricciardi
Derek’s Dashers 2nd (2:20:00) Waimea Veteran Men 3rd (2:20:19)
Veteran Women:
Marlborough 1st (2:44:31) – Jane Roberts, Michelle Fox, Jan Curnow, Joanne Farrell, Michelle Harris Waimea 2nd (2:50:58), Chicks On The Run 3rd (4:14:40)
Social Teams:
A+ Boys 1st (2:30:32) – Phillip Sim, Marty Moran, Anthony Bowron, Jacob Holland, Allister Savage
Crilley 2nd (2:36:53), Tussocks 3rd (2:37:09)
Walking Teams:
Tasman Express 1st (3:58:50) – Eric Verstaapen, Ross Mitchell, Raylene Stringer, Pam Barker, Ros D’Agnilli
Waimea Express 2nd (4:02:40), Marlborough Walkers 3rd (4:42:54)
Fastest Lap times – Senior Men:
1st Lap – Thomas Andersen (18:56); 2nd Lap – Josh Barry (28:58); 3rd Lap – Rowan Hooper (25:54); 4th Lap – Hugo Lawrence (21:42); 5th Lap – Mike Lowe (21:52)
Fastest Lap times – Senior Women:
1st Lap – Anna Gellatly (26:04); 2nd Lap – Hannah Maher (33:50); 3rd Lap – Annabelle Latz (32:16); 4th Lap – Lauren Penny (29:34); 5th Lap – Marjolene Edwards(30:25)
Fastest Lap time – Veteran Men:
1st Lap – Ian Courtenay (19:04); 2nd Lap – Peter Versey (29:08); 3rd Lap – Ian Carter (33:02); 4th Lap – Gary Marshall (24:55); 5th Lap – Derek Shaw (25:23)
Fastest Lap times – Veteran Women:
1st Lap – Jane Roberts (26:28); 2nd Lap – Robyn Deane (34:56); 3rd Lap – Jan Curnow (39;00); 4th Lap – Joanne Farrell (29:16); 5th Lap – Michelle Harris (30:22)
Thanks to everyone who helped make the day a success and hope to see you again next year.
Full Results
Photos (Some great shots of today’s action kindly supplied by David Smit)
More Photos (Courtesy of Sandra & Denis Robinson, who braved the rain to man the timekeeping station at Linkwater, also some additional shots from the start of leg five and the finish)
Athletics Nelson’s QCR2013 Video (Josh Barry’s superb Youtube video of the Athletics Nelson teams competing on Saturday)