Waiwhakareke Random Relay 2022 Results
We had 22 runners (7 teams) all pushing themselves for their team in pretty much ideal running conditions.
We had 22 runners (7 teams) all pushing themselves for their team in pretty much ideal running conditions.
For all those softies who cosied up to the fire, a hardy wee bunch of runners braved the weather at Waiwhakareke reserve today for our random relay this afternoon. It wasn’t that bad in the end but luckily we had the barn as extra cover which was our start/finish line and transition area. Also a big welcome back to former Hamilton Harrier Andrew Wilson in NZ from Colorado for a couple of weeks. Safe travels home Andrew. Names in red did 3 laps, green did 2 and blue ran 1. Well done to everybody who showed up. Some close racing with Richard Ellison setting a blistering pace and ran 4 laps in total.
Well the weather held out for the first official club event of the year.
Saturday saw 30 keen runners meet at the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Reserve, for a 6 lap relay.
Teams were decided on the day, where each team had 3 runners, one would do 1 lap, one would do 2 laps, and the remaining runner doing 3 laps. Running order was decided by each team.
The gravel path meant not a lot of mud, but this made for good fast racing with the team of Amber, Chloe and Maia taking out the kids race, and the team of Wendy H, Garry W, and Chris Keith taking out the adults race.
Thank you to all runners, volunteers and supporters!
Report by Dave Southwick
An august bunch of Hawks fanatics found themselves at Lake Waiwhakarehe, Rotokauri on Saturday to run the Kevin Knowles inspired course. Arriving in heavy rain and a cold southerly, they were not wimps, sitting by the warm fire, complaining about the weather.
Those were with an eye on history would have noted the long steep hills driven through, once a part of our Sweeney Cup course, or that we were a stone’s throw from our superb Gilchrist Rosebowl course of the 80s on the McLachlan farm. Or even that we had run on this property 40 years ago when we called it the Galloway Ranch, long before it became an HCC property planted all over.
The day took the form of a two person relay with each person running two non-consecutive laps of either 2000, or 4000 metres. The course, shortened a little from the advertised distance, was on stony paths plus some cross country and mud to boot. Thankfully the rain abated, though the cool wind remained.
Winner takes all: Peter Horan and Mike Harris were the first team home.
Events like this really are gems on the Hawks calendar. Kick yourself if you missed it. Thanks to Kevin Knowles as organiser.
Results……..Team and time.
Peter Horan / Mike Harris 42:38
Gemma Horan / Chris Keith 44:22
Toshimi Farrell / Kevin Knowles 44:37
David Southwick / Grace Ritchie 45:05
Gordon Speirs / Marc Scott 45:07
Lucy Farrell / Dawn Tuffery 45:18
Vaughan Swale / Ross Barnett 45:44
Terry Hannet / Sunil Ritchie 48:15
Helen Hall-King / Colin King 49:57
Gilbert Macdonald / Maureen Leonard 50:18
Great effort from all runners and very close finish times.