Timaru Round the Gorge Relay

Saturday 29 July 2006

Leith Report

Updated March 15, 2007 9:55 PM

Updated Results (pdf)

For Leith teams Click Here

For Gorges Relay Official Webpage and full details Click Here

Team One Report

Team Two Report

Team Three Report

The Race: Eight laps as follows

Lap 1	All Weather Track Mountainview Rd to Fairview Road	8.1 km undulating uphill
Lap 2	Fairview Road to Pareora Huts	8.5 km steep downhill, undulating.
Lap 3	Pareora Huts over Gorge	7.3 km steady climb, steep downhill
Lap 4	End of Gorge to Cave	11.1 km gradual uphill, steep downhill
Lap 5	Cave to Limestone Works	6.2 km slightly downhill, undulating hills
Lap 6	Limestone Works to Pareora Ford Road	7.9 km steep downhill, flat
Lap 7	Pareora Ford Road to Claremont Hall	7.6 km steep uphill, gradual downhill
Lap 8	Claremont Hall to All Weather Track	9.4 km gradual downhill

Team One report by Marc Boulle

Leith No. 1 team ran exceptionally well to place second in the A grade (second overall on time).

The start of a great team effort began with Lap One in which Neale "Thighs" McLanachan dueled it out with young Gus "Stop Gus" Taylor of Canterbury University to keep Leith in contention for second place.

Speed machine Luke Kendrick put in a blisteringly fast effort on Lap 2 to keep Leith in sight of Canterbury University and well clear of Otago University.

Mark O'Donnell on Lap 3 ran conservatively at first to save himself for the uphill section where he ran steadily, despite being told on a number of occasions that the uphill section was finished, for a real fast downhill blast down to the finish of the lap on the flat.

Andrew Lonie (Lap 4) now took over and ran himself out to the sounds of "Bambi, Bambi". At the end of his magnificent effort someone wanted to use his head as a windscreen washer.

Julian O'Hagan (Lap 5) also kept it conservative on the initial flat section and then on the turn for the hill, really turned on the juice to run a great lap, He got the most points for the tightest shorts on display.

Downhill Maestro Richard "Turbo" Hendry (Lap 6) relished the chance to show how fast he could go on the predominantly downhill lap and he did not disappoint.

Self acclaimed uphill specialist and part time geriatric Marc "Ostrich" Boulle (Lap 7) ran tentatively but steadily all the way up the steep hill to set up a classic race for Alan Funnell on the final lap.

University of Otago had reduced Leith's lead to under 30 seconds by the end of the seventh lap and the scene was set for a tremendous tussell between Alan Funnell and Tim Hargrave of Otago University.

Alan Funnell produced a magnificently gutsy run. Alan was initially hampered by a painful knee injury which slowed him down at the beginning of his lap. This enabled Tim Hargrave to put University of Otago in with a chance to get second. However, Alan picked up the pace, despite the pain, and outlasted the University runner to put Leith into second place at the finish. His reward was to be allowed to sit in the front passenger seat with a pack of ice plasted to his knee all the way home to Dunedin. This kept him real cool.

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Leith No. 2 team report by Carol Stevens

Laps one and two got away to a very good start with the Scoones/Roberts partnership, Julia looking very fresh after recently returning from Australia, took the team into third place at the end of the hard, undulating lap one. Dallas took over for lap two. As a spectator I thought Dallas was taking a jog along Bondi Beach. He soon got into his work and almost got the team into first place by the end of the lap. This proves that sprinters can run 8ks.

Alistair McAlevey and Ron McLay-Barnes ran laps three and four respectively, with Alistair running a very solid hill lap keeping the team in touch, with Ron covering the long slightly uphill lap four with ease finishing at Cave.

The two shorter laps, five and six were left for Bill Kenny the legendary 70 year old, and the baby of the team, Julia Clearwater. Both of whom put in very good efforts.

Pete Hughes ran lap seven, arguably the toughest leg of the relay, with the infamous hill being the biggest challenge of the day. Ed Stevens did the final 9.4 km lap, bringing the team home in a credible fifth place.

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Leith No. 3 team report by Clare Pascoe

The van left Dunedin at 6:45, Russell, Jacinta's partner was our driver. On arrival in Timaru, the team soon lined up to get off to a cracking start, with Clare Pascoe taking the lead from early on.

The baton was then passed to Claire Kinraid, who set off at a fast pace down the hill to settle into a steady run on the flat. Whilst the rest of us watched a calf being born, Claire stormed past, and then passed the baton onto her Mum Jacinta.

Jacinta thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of the hills and kept up a steady pace throughout. Sarah Goldsmith was next, while nursing an injured hip came into Cave with a great time.

Sarah Wyllie, in her 1st and last race for Leith before heading overseas, was not fooled by the marshals, who told her the finish "was flat".

Rachel Feldman took it over and hoofed it along to pass onto Vick Williamsi for the grunty hill, which was a "piece of cake".

Last but not least, Christine took us home with minimum support as the team were cheering on Leith Men No 1, Alan Funnell was setting a cracking pace holding
off University of Otago. But Christine provided us with a great sprint finish, which the team managed to witness and cheer her in.

Overall it was a great day enjoyed by all, on and off the road. We ended up having a meal at the Speight's Ale House before heading back to Dunedin in time
to watch the Rugby at Christine's.

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