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.
Photos (courtesy of David Smit)
Read the Marlborough Express article here
Check out the Athletics Nelson You Tube Video here