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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