Grant Budd’s team of Darryl Conn and Ken Johnson won in 23.36. While Kent Hodgson, Colin King and Arthur Green to second spot with 23.49 and Andrew Wark, Dawn Tuffery and Sandra Jensen were third in 24.04 just 5 seconds ahead of the Mike Brightwell team. The cheering was loudest when Cameron Hall and Sunil Ritchie dead heated on 24.26.

Those taking part voted it a low key but good club day. It was a great workout for the Cambridge Cross country relays.

(editors note – that would be Kerry’s marathon PB as he hasn’t done a road PB, but would still have him in first place for club marathon times this year, on a very hilly track in 2:57!)

The bus trip to the start of the T42. Marcus, Connie, Dot, Mike and Kerry. Issac took photo. Rachel Bettie (Bain) also there. Chris did mtn bike. Great day Great place.

49th Rotorua Marathon and T42 Challenge dominate news this week. The iconic, picturesque lap of the Rotorua Lake marathon attracted over 4000 participants in four running/walking events. Next year should be a boomer with 50 years being celebrated and Race Director Murray Fleming is already talking it up. Diary it now, set the goal do the background miles and give it a go. Having done 9 marathons myself they do take a huge time commitment so be warned.

This year saw Barry Magee trained Sam Wreford have a runaway win the fastest time since 2001with a 2.22.23 clocking. He won by nearly 12 minutes from Stephen O’Callaghan 2.34.12. After a cautious first half in 74 minutes Wreford flew home with a strong tail NE wind on his back running negative splits for a 68 second half. Such a tail wind past the airport is a most unusual occurrence for Rotorua. Erin Furness Hamilton triathlon coach and personal trainer won the women’s race in 2.57.25 and improved her time by 2 minutes when she placed 4th last year. Gabby O’Rourke who after a drinks mix up was second again in 2.59.50 and Cambridge Candice Hammond 3.03.01 was third.

There were 1153 finishers in the marathon with the tail enders clocking over 7 hours. Dredging through the results to find Hawks connected runners was a mission but I did pick up these names. Apologies for those missed. In 33rd Kevin Knowles 3.08.35 had a good run, Katy Dawson in her first marathon ran a pleasing 3.15.08. Craig Barrett was through in 3.15.27 just one spot ahead of Lance Brew 3.15.43. Darryl Conn ran a pleasing 3.40.10 while Brian Halford 3.50.22, Evan Primmer 3.52.20 and Oscar Emery 3.59.30 were other Hawks noted. Katherine Prumm 1.24.47 was second in the half and her time places her 13th on the club half ranking list for women. Craig McLean won the 5km in 17.57 while Karyn McCready with 21.42 won the women’s section of that event.

The women’s race saw a great family battle between the Deverall’s with Emerson 16.32 edging out Bridget 17.06, Helen (I think I will do 3 laps) Roundtree won in 16.08.

The men’s race saw another family race with Matt and Mark Scott battling it out, Matt graciously letting his father get over the line in front of him. Tim Stewart was the overall winner in 20.59 and ever green Glenn Sexton showing strong early season form to take second place 22.28 and John Charlton (Cambridge) coming in third with 22.52.

Thanks to the Cambridge club for their attendance and making the effort on a wet Saturday the Hawks Club is looking forward to the return visit in a few weeks’ time to the Cambridge XC relays

For the record the Hawks won the Wilson Browne trophy.

Results

Helen Hall-King quite literally kept everyone in line, while the selection process of pairing up the team-mates took place. The format this year was the same as last year with the Hawks Car Park used to form a line, and pair up the team-mates. Glenn Sexton mistakenly thought that being at the head of the line meant being first to the Bar. Sorry Mate, you had to run first.

The joy of this format means Club-mates were paired up with those they wouldn’t normally race with or against. Young/old/male/female/fast and slow were matched together depending on where you stood in the line-up.

The course for the 16 pairs followed the river path out under Cobham bridge to the turnaround. The faster of the pair did 5+ kms while the slower did less than 5kms depending on where they met their partner.

Tactics? Go Hard! Turnaround. Go Hard back to the Finish. If both of you gave it everything you got all the way then you would go close to being first across the line.

Who took the trophy? Mary Bollen and Evan Primmer fought off Kris Moore and Shona Dawson for line honours, with several others very close behind. Apologies, no times were taken, and the results were a bit sketchy, but it didn’t matter much as everyone appeared to enjoy themselves regardless.

Big thanks to Neil Pitts for the junior race organisation (won by Charli Miller). Thanks also to Helen, Oscar, Dawn, Tyla and others.

Overall the general consensus was that this was a Fun event, and should be retained in this format next year. I have to agree.

Sing Relay Report by Garry Wilson

P.S. Apparently the building owners from across the road from the clubrooms are now looking for new Garden Irrigation hoses. Where did we get those race Battens from again?

Even though the rain held off, the conditions on the trails were understandably muddy, slippery and treacherous, especially for the second wave of contestants.

Several Hawks ran the Nugget Half Marathon which is a very challenging hilly, cross country course starting at Waihi Beach heading north over the beaches and then inland uphill and through farmland into Waihi. We had Kerry Suter, Mark Scott, Glenn Sexton, Marcus Daws, Mike Brightwell, Connie Crook , Kovo Kowalewski and Kay Stockman all taking part. Kerry, Mark, Glenn and Marcus were the first 4 men over the line . The girls all ran excellent times and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.

The second event to start from Waihi Beach was the Half Nugget 10km run/26km mountain bike ride. Kent Hodgson and Sheldon Gorter (Cambridge cyclist) entered the Half Nugget as a team and came in first. Unfortunately Kent struggled on the run with traction problems in the wrong shoes and graciously let Andrew Wark go past him on the last hill.

Andrew Wark, Karen Hopson and Kris Moore all did the Half Nugget run/MB as individuals and did exceptionally well. Andrew placed 5th , Karen was 8th woman and Chris finished the race in good time despite suffering terrible cramp in his legs on the 26km bike which he claims was the worst pain he has ever endured (men should have to give birth!). Once again Andrew didn’t manage to stay upright for the whole bike leg (dam sneaky alcathene pipe!) but thankfully didn’t require post-race facial surgery this year!

Good on Dion Hardy who still did the 10k run in the Full Nugget Team relay event despite competing in a few very tough endurance events just recently.

Great effort Hawks!

However, the rain eased off just in time for the first race, the combined 2km and 3km events for those 14 years and under (12 starters).

By the time the 5km started (33 starters), the weather had cleared up nicely even though there were a few thunder claps close by which kept us looking skyward.

This was a handicap event, so off we went at our staggered computer generated start times (that computer has no heart!) from outside the Bridgewater building, under the Bridge St bridge and up the grass past the bandstand (yuck/gasp) onto Victoria St and then making our way down the river path to Cobham Bridge and return.

All got back safely to enjoy a well deserved afternoon tea and bbq where there was plenty of good natured banter and a few lies shared.

Special thanks must go to Base Manager John Crane and his wonderful team of volunteers who all contributed to the smooth running of the day.

All Trophy Day winners and results are listed separately.

Terry Hannett

The Te Awamutu Athletic Club Golf Course Fun Run was an off road run with 3km for school students, 3km, 6km, 12km and a 4 person 12km relay option.

Highlighted Results:

12K

1. Tim Stewart 41:56, 2. Cory Whiting 42:06, 3. John Crane 43:51, 4. Glenn Sexton 44:51, 5. Andrew Wark 45:30

6K

1. Paul Signal 24:14, 2. Emerson Deverall 24:39, 3. Craig Wilson 26:26

3K

1. Craig McLean 10:17, 2. Oliver McLean 10:39, 3. Ani Gemmell 11:51

Also Isaac Milne 12:52, Mia Milne 13:11, Lucy Farrell 13:21, Rain Milne 14:05

Sophie Harris, first race as a Hawk, 17:55. Congratulations and thank you to Helen Hall for helping her around the course. Fantastic to see many children of members getting involved. Keep it up, get out and race as often as you can.

Full Results:

TA_GolfCourseRun2013_3Km

TA_GolfCourseRun2013_6Km

TA_GolfCourseRun2013_12Km

Open Athletics article

Hawks Road and Cross 8 May 2013

Hawks Road and Cross 24 April 2013

Hawks Road and Cross 17 April 2013

Hawks Road and Cross 10 April 2013

Hawks Road and Cross 4 April 2013

Hawks Road and Cross 27 March 2013