The 2008 Wellington Harrier club season finished with Saturday's traditional running of the Old Boys' Memorial Road Race. This is a 6.4km handicap event and completes the club's three race handicap series. With the course slightly extended (following a re-measure) and with a keen breeze, this year's times were slightly slower than in the recent past. While the turn-out was modest, those that did compete found it a good "blow out" for the forthcoming national road relay.
The under 14s ran with typical gusto. Alexandra Langley took line honours from Tamina Beveridge and Matthew Brett. Patrick Roche finished off a very successful season with the fastest time, from Matthew and Alexandra.
The senior race was notable for a third of the starters coming from the men's over 50 grade - no doubt hoping to confirm a place in the relay team. The result showed how successful they were at duping the handicapper with Mike Winsborough taking line honours from a fast finishing Dave Mason. Laura Burke gamely held on to third, while Julian Baker, Patrick Mckay and Chris Hanson all made ground well to round out the top six. Unfortunately two of the men's 50 group pulled up lame, but with typical youthful enthusiasm, insist that they will be mobile again by October 4.
The relay teams have now been selected and Wellington Harriers will be represented by teams in Junior Women, Junior Men (x2), Senior Men, Men's C Grade, Masters Men 40 and Masters Men 50 grades. It is sad to see that we have no women's teams entered, but to those selected, good training, good luck and please, no injuries!!
Tony.
Great weather encouraged a good turn-out for the annual Press/Palmer Cups race. This is a sealed handicap event run over two loops based on the lower half of the Vosseler course and involves both individual and team components. A special welcome went out to several club new-comers including overseas visitors Li Jing, Dorothy Starzak and Andrew Stewart.
Club notices included the news that five of the twelve junior titles from this year's National Cross Country and Road Champs were won by members of Wellington Harriers. Hayley Green, Nathan Barrett (twice), Kieron McDonald and Nick Lucie-Smith all won golds, and all four are coached by our Harrier Manager and international coach, Graham Tattersall. Well done to all of you!! Well done also to another of Graham's proteges - Jonathan Wyatt. This weekend Jono took the World Mountain Running title for an amazing sixth time.
The senior club members waited to watch the children finish their one lap race, and what an spectacular collection of finishing sprints we saw. Unfortunately I haven't seen your results, but well done to every one of you.
In the seniors' race, Daniel Clendon showed Wyatt-like contempt for the big hill and all but lapped some of us tail-enders. Ross Sommerville made a welcome reappearance and took out second both across the line and on handicap. But the handicap winner, capping a very consistent year, was Patrick Mckay. Andrew McNeil, Casey Flint, Dave Mason and Vickie Humphries won the teams' race, proving that you can't beat experience.
Unfortunately Peter Rendall became unwell during the day and we all wish you a speedy recovery Peter.
The road racing season continued on Saturday with the 2008 Union Athletics New Zealand Road Championships, this year being held at Ruakura, Hamilton. An elite group of ten runners and one walker from Wellington Harriers made the trip north, and returned with an impressive collection of medals.
Kieron McDonald followed up his third placing in the New Zealand Cross Country Champs with a great victory in the Boys 14 race. Nathan Barrett showed his Cross Country win was no fluke by taking out the Men's 16 race, shutting out the big Auckland hope Tadele Haimanot. Alison Samson continued her excellent recent results with second place in the Women's 19 Walk.
Given the light representation, Wellington provincial teams had a very successful day taking out the golds in three events. The Senior Women (including 7th by Gabrielle O'Rourke), the Men 16 (including Nathan) and the Men 19 all held out the Auckland teams to score satisfying victories. The Women 19 team with Barbara Roy 4th, Katherine Vance 8th and Alice Feslier-Holmes 12th would have medaled with another team member - Hayley Green would have been handy! Likewise the Senior Men, with Jason Cressingham 14th and Daniel Clendon 23rd, were also one runner short of a certain medal.