Tauranga Cross Country 2018 Results

Report by Tanja Miller

Tauranga Open Cross County Results 2018 PDF

On Saturday the 27th of May 2018 I found myself lined up at the start of the Tauranga Cross Country Open. It was a surreal moment for me and I had plenty of self doubt going on  “I’m 41 years old! I’ve never been a runner or athlete of any kind so what the heck am I doing here?” and “What if I come last? That’s ok right? Someone has to be tail end Charlie?”

The last memories I had of cross country were back in 1989 at intermediate in Cambridge. I was 12 years old and I decided I never wanted to run another school cross country EVER. They sucked and I sucked so what’s the point?  During the next 5 years of high school I stuck to my word. I managed to come up with various excuses to keep me from having to endure the ‘torture’. Then along came husband and the growing, birthing and breastfeeding (13 years of it, yikes!) of 6 demanding babies and thoughts of cross country were hidden well away in the “bad memories” box.

Yet somehow here I was lined up with a fit group of talented teens and mature women who all looked like they’d been running for years! Thankfully I had my trusty side kick Charli running beside me for moral support. I kept my negative thoughts in check as I really wanted to show her and her siblings that you’re never too old too try something new, break out of your comfort zone and find your hidden talents.

Then the starter gun went, snapping me back to reality and it was game on!  I had a wee goal of trying to come in under 20 minutes but I didn’t want to go out too fast. I’d been unwell with flu and was still recovering. With my girl running beside me I set about running the best darn race this 41 year old body could. Lap one done and Charli called out “9 mins Mum for lap 1, awesome!” Wow, better than I expected.

The course was firm underfoot with not a speck of mud insight. The sun was shining but there was a strong breeze which made part of each lap more challenging. The dreaded Waipuna cross country course hill was harder than ever and I’m so glad I only had to ascend it twice unlike my husband who had to do it 4 times! And I managed to clear all the barriers without face planting, bonus!

Then somehow I found myself in the finish chute “Go for it Mum” yelled my Charli girl and so I did. I sprinted and crossed the finish line in 17:16! Yes, I did it, I came in under my goal time. All the work I’d put in plodding away up hills and through the grass at Minogue park and Porritt had paid off. It was such an honour to run with a group of women, young and not so young, all with the same goal, get to the finish line!  Thanks to Tauranga Ramblers for a great event which welcomes athletes of all ages and abilities and well done to all the runners. If there are any other parents like me who’ve spent years as a sideline supporter for their kids sport. It’s never too late to get out there and join in. It will give you a great insight into what it’s like for them as well as improving your own fitness, If I can do it, anyone can!

Photos on Tauranga Rambler’s FB page >>

Tauranga Open Cross County Results 2018 PDF

Senior Men & Masters Men 35-64 8060 Metres
Race#	First	Surname	Club/School	Time	Grade	Place
1	Regan	Bones	Tauranga Ramblers	29:08	SM	1
2	Logan	Rodger	Hamilton City Hawks	29:58	SM	2
3	Michael	Pugh	Tauranga Ramblers	30:08	MM35-49	1
4	Dean	Chiplin	Cambridge	31:29	MM35-49	2
5	John	Bowe	Hamilton City Hawks	31:31	MM35-49	3
6	Brad	Dixon	Everfit Coaching	31:46	MM35-49	4
7	Tony	Broadhead	Lake City	31:57	MM50-64	1
8	Todd	Rowan	Everfit Coaching	32:31	SM	3
9	Chris	Atkinson	Cambridge	32:42	MM35-49	5
10	Andy	Vane	Everfit Coaching	32:46	MM35-49	6
11	John	Charlton	Cambridge	32:49	MM35-49	7
12	Stewart	Simpson	Tauranga Ramblers	33:11	MM35-49	8
13	Max	Gordon		33:56	SM	4
14	David	Burrett	Tauranga Ramblers	34:03	MM35-49	9
15	Les	Miller	Hamilton City Hawks	34:48	MM35-49	10
16	Sunil		Hamilton City Hawks	34:48	SM	5
17	Kevin	Knowles		35:14	MM50-64	2
18	Alan	Crambie	Lake City	35:38	MM50-64	3
19	Paul	Signal	Cambridge	36:03	MM50-64	4
20	Craig	Sinclair	Cambridge	36:10	MM35-49	11
21	Travis	Stinll		36:26	MM35-49	12
22	Darryn	Koppens	Morrinsville	36:27	MM35-49	13
23	Mark	Handley	Olympic Harriers	36:30	MM50-64	5
24	Max	Ball	Tauranga Ramblers	37:34	MM50-64	6
25	Phillip	Curtis	Tauranga Ramblers	39:18	MM50-64	7
26	Curphey	John	Cambridge	41:03	MM35-49	14
27	Gilbert	MacDonald	Hamilton City Hawks	48:28	MM50-64	8
Masters Men 65+ 6060 Metres
1	Gavin	Smith	Tauranga Ramblers	26:53	MM65+	1
2	Trevor	Ogilvie	Lake City	29:30	MM65+	2
3	Robin	Read	Napier Harriers	33:32	MM65+	3
4	John	Shivas	Tauranga Ramblers	34:46	MM65+	4
5	Peter	Vyver	Lake City	40:30	MM65+	5
Senior Women, Masters Women Women U18 4060 Metres
Placing	First	Surname	Club/School	Time	Grade	Place
1	Sally	Gibbs	Tauranga Ramblers	15.26	SW	1
2	Aimee	Ferguson	Hawkes/Rototuna	15:30	W18	1
3	Sarah	Gardner	Tauranga Ramblers	15:43	SW	2
4	Gemma	Baldey	Whakatane	15:52	W18	2
5	Samantha	Corbett	Hawks	16.11	W18	3
6	Jemima	Antoniazzi	Hawks/St Peters	16:38	W18	4
7	Tanjia	Miller	Hawks	17:16	MW40	1
8	Charli	Miller	Hawks	17:17	W18	5
9	Aliana	Brent	Hamilton Hawks	17:44	SW	3
10	Abbie	Mortimer	Tauranga Girls	18:02	W18	6
11	Katrina	Shores	Team CK	18:24	MW35	1
12	Karyn	McCready	Waiktao Masters	19:25	MW45	1
13	Charlotte	Bartrum	Tauranga Ramblers	19:39	MW35	2
14	Tabitha	Marshall	Tauranga Girls	20:16	W18	7
15	Rebecca	Speirs	Tauranga Ramblers	21:08	MW40	2
16	Dee	Atkinson	Cambridge	21:09	MW45	2
17	Mikayla	Wiles	Hawks/Cambridge High	23:34	W18	8
Men U20 U18 6060 Metres
Placing	First	Surname	Club/School	Time	Grade	Place
1	Ben	Bidois	Hawks/Cambridge	21:48	M18	1
2	Harrison	Fountain	Hawks/Te Aroha	22:14	M20	1
3	Blake	Miller		0:13	M20	2
4	Nick	Wolton	Bethlehem College	0:35	M18	2
5	Rhys	Findson	Morrinsville College	27:02	M18	3
6	Chris	Wolton	Bethlehem College	27:04	M18	4