North Island XC Champs 2021 Results
Report by Mike Riley
What a beautiful day following a frosty early start to arrive in Taupo by about 10.00 AM. Why so early you might ask, well to help Mike & Wendy Harris to erect the gazebo when they were kind enough to bring it along, it’s always nice to have a base to find fellow members and leave gear bags there.
As there weren’t a great number of Hawks competing, I’m going to try and mention everyone who did run, they are just as important as those few who manage to place in their grades. If I have missed anyone it’s not intentional although I did notice a couple of names who aren’t recorded as belonging to any centre or club and I’m pretty sure they weren’t members but I have excluded their performances from this report as I assume they currently aren’t members.
First off were the G10 and B10 grades with our only members Claire Liang finish 6th in 5.10.1 for her 1000 metres in the girls race and her brother Austin who was 8th in the boys recording 5.25.0. Next up was older sister McKenzie who competed over 2000 metres finishing 14th in the G12 grade in 10.24.6.
The G14 grade over 3000 metres had two club members competing with Carenza Elley finishing 11th in 12.28.8 followed by Nisha Moorfield close behind in 14th running 12.39.8. That could be 2-2 between these girls this winter so a bit of club rivalry developing here. In the boys G14 race we were represented by Jack Conder who was 15th in 14.22.1 for 3000 metres.
No entrants in the G16 grade but Boh Ritchie who couldn’t make in time for this ran in the W18 grade to take out the NI title recording 14.31.9 for 4000 metres and I’m pretty sure it was a course record for her age and distance. Well done Boh. The only M18 member competing was Jack Murray who was 13th in 17.49.4
The W18 and the W20 grades both started together as both ran 4000 metres. In the W20 grade our first member home was Jemima Antoniazzi who was just back from injury and finished 5th in 15.30.4 and was well backed up by Sophie Harris in 8th who recorded 16.01.3 then Tara Sacke 10th in 16.25.7 and Gemma Horan 13th in 20.30.2. The winner of the W20 race was Hannah Gapes who also recreated a new race record.
We had two members in the keenly contested M20 race with Ben Bidois finishing 3rd in 16.07.3 and the winner recording 16.05.5. Our second member was Alex Brackenbury who was 15th in 18.05.3
In the older ranks of masters and seniors, there was a smattering of club members competing. In the MW50-54 grade, Karen McCready finished 4th in 23.20.3 for her 5000 metre event and in the MW60-64, also over 5000 metres as Wendy Fox who was 6th in 28.09.4.
John Bowe finished 2nd in the MM45-49 grade recording 22.13.0 for 6000 metres supported by Peter Conder in 10th recording 26.57.8. Moving on to the MM50-54 grade saw Mike Harris also finishing 2nd over 6000 metres in 23.42.3, Gary Wilson 2nd in the MM55-59 grade in 25.16.0 and finally Kevin Knowles appears to have been 3rd in the MM60-65 after some confusion at the prizegiving being awarded the silver medal so this may not be finalised yet.
The only senior member who competed was Kerry White in the SW grade where she finished a good 5th placing in 18.21.1 just over 30 seconds from the first placed athlete.
Overall there was some very closing racing, especially in the combined age groups which boosted numbers in many races. It was an enjoyable day of cross-country and it’s such a great course.
| Place | Bib | Grade | Time |
| Girls U10 1000m | |||
| 6 | 210 | Claire Liang | 05:10.1 |
| Girls U12 2000 | |||
| 14 | 406 | Mckenzie Liang | 10:24.6 |
| Girls U14 3000m | |||
| 11 | 522 | Carenza Elley | 12:28.8 |
| 14 | 521 | Nisha Moorfield | 12:39.8 |
| Women U18 4000m | |||
| 1 | 356 | Boh Ritchie | 14:31.9 |
| Women U20 4000m | |||
| 5 | 525 | Jemima Antoniazzi | 15:30.4 |
| 8 | 528 | Sophie Harris | 16:01.3 |
| 13 | 564 | Gemma Horan | 20:30.2 |
| Senior Women 5000m | |||
| 5 | 31 | Kerry White | 18:21.1 |
| Masters Women 50-54 5000m | |||
| 4 | 438 | Karyn McCready | 23:20.3 |
| Masters Women 60-64 5000m | |||
| 6 | 656 | Wendy Fox | 28:09.4 |
| Place | Bib | Grade | Time |
| Boys U10 1000m | |||
| 8 | 360 | Austin Liang | 05:25.0 |
| Men U18 5000m | |||
| 13 | 657 | Jack Murray | 17:49.4 |
| Men U20 5000m | |||
| 15 | 711 | Alex Brackenbury | 18:05.3 |
| Masters Men 45-49 6000m | |||
| 2 | 307 | John Bowe | 22:13.0 |
| 11 | 331 | Peter Conder | 26:57.8 |
| Masters Men 50-54 6000m | |||
| 2 | 122 | Mike Harris | 23:42.3 |
| Masters Men 55-59 6000m | |||
| 2 | 527 | Garry Wilson | 25:16.0 |
| Masters Men 60-64 6000m | |||
| 3 | 613 | Kevin Knowles | 26:17.1 |
