28th Leith Cross Country Relays

The Ponydales are organised by the Leith Harrier & Athletic Club Inc. and this year took place at the Dunedin Pony Club, Three Mile Hill, Dunedin on 17 May 2008.

Ponydales Leith 2008 Report

The people who set up the course, did the timekeeping, processed the results, organised the food and drink, did the marshalling and then the tidying up afterwards have to be thanked here. Steve Smith and Winifred Harding for their behind the scenes work, particulary Steve Smith for driving around transporting the necessary tools and implements to the site, Winifred Harding for her help and Margaret Knox and her team for their behind the scenes work on results, entries, catering, prizes and more. Trevor King for being chief course designer. Alan Funnell (The Barbie Man), Ron McLay-Barnes, Kevin Blair, Steve Skilling, Ed Stevens and others for their help in setting up the course and helping in general. Greg Johnston for his timekeeping and other consideralbe contributions. Brian Pascoe for his "ablution contribution". Gisela Sole and Steve Skilling for taking some great photos. The sponsors who supported this event so admirably - some of them actually running in the event. And of course the runners themselves and the spectators and supporters who all made this a great day of pure cross-country running that will always be remembered. Now for a summary of how the Leith teams fared.

It was a great day of cross-country running, with sunny, dry weather and a challenging course with 100s of keen runners showing the world what genuine cross-country running is all about. You could say that this course offered something for everyone, a log jump, undulations, a small creek jump, a rickety-looking bridge to cross, . What more could you wish for?.

Race Four: Leith SM finished 7th

Leith SM - Andrew Lonie, Alan Funnell, Jason Palmer, Glen Ferguson.

The Leith Senior Men's team suffered the withdrawal of John Winsbury to a debillitating injury. However, Alan Funnell was called in to fill his position. Although he had already run in the Master's Men's No. 1 team in Race 1, he stuck to his task and helped the team to finish in mid-position. The team they were out to beat was the strong Ariki SM3 team. The speedy Lonie (9:25) secured a 23 second lead over Siimon Kerr at the end of the 1st lap. Funnell (10:10) kept this lead exactly the same by matching the pace of the second Ariki runner Stewart Paul. Palmer (10:14), feeling the effects of some heavy marathon training runs during the week, still ran well to only have the team 4 seconds behind the Ariki SM3 by the start of the fourth lap. Ferguson (9:39) had a great run against a younger runner Chris Weddell matching his time but unable to close the 4 second gap. This was a very good effort indeed from this team

Race Two: Leith SW finished 2nd, Leith MW finished 1st.

(course approx. 4 x 2.1km)

Senior Women
Leith SW1 - Sue Cuthbert, Sarah Toomey, Brooke Carman, Kirsty Morris.
The Leith Senior Women's No. 1 team finished second in this race in 34 minutes 16 seconds just 55 seconds behind the first placed Hill City Senior Women's No. 1 team. All put in a great team effort, running to their current form and abilities. Sue Cuthbert (8:25) had a very good race knowing that she had to also run the last lap for the Leith Master Women's team. Brooke Carman was back from a long layoff, but showed that she is quickly getting back to fitness. And of course, Kirsty Morris, the anchor runner, who finished with second fastest time of 7 minutes 57 seconds.

The Leith SW2 team of Alice Barach, Megan Balchin, Sonya Cameron and Allison Winsbury finished 8th while the Leith SW3 team of Clare Pascoe, Bianca Parry, Christine Leith and Janice McCready finished 9th.

Masters Women 35+
The Leith Masters Women's team of Jill Alexander, Jan Craig, Tracey Bransgrove and Sue Cuthbert won this grade in 36 minutes 54 seconds. Sue Cuthbert had earlier run the second fastest time for a Masters Women (8:25) and this race (grade) also ran the second fastest time of 8 minutes 40 seconds.

Women 16 & Under
The Leith W16 team of Rebecca Thomas, Jordyn Fogarty, Talia Allison and Sarah Thomas ran well to secure third place in this increasingly strong grade.

Race One:

(course approx. 4 x 2.1km)

Master Men's 35

The Leith Master Men's teams were immensely strong in Race One. The Leith Master Men's No. 1 team of John Bayne, Allan Funnell, Brian Pascoe and David Rush repeated its feat of last year by winning the race comfortably overall and the Master Men's title in a fast 30 minutes 39 seconds. Allan Funnell had a great run in finishing with fastest time in this grade of 7 minutes 22 seconds. John Bayne was not far behind, still suffering from a bout of food poisoning (was Louis Luyt in town?) in achieving second fastest time in the MM35 grade of 7 minutes 39 seconds.

The Leith Master Men's No. 2 team of Ray Knox, Ron McLay-Barnes, Craig Grant and Richard Hendry were not to be outdone and finished second in this grade. Richard Hendry was the fastest runner in this team running a superb race on the last lap to bring the team home in 31 minutes 40 seconds, with a clear gap on the third placed Hill City MM1 team.

The Leith MM3 team of Dave Sharp, Patrick Manning, Steve Murphy, and Julian O'Hagan also had a great run in this tough grade finishing 5th in 33 minutes 16 seconds

Master Men's 50
The Leith Master Men's 50 team of Grant Koedyk, Graham Anderson, Ed Stevens and Marc Boullé repeated its feat of last year by winning this grade in a time of 36 minutes 15 seconds.

Mixed/Social/Composite
The Typical Leith team of Mark O'Donnell, Grant McDougal, Lachie Ashton and John Scoones finished second in this increasingly popular grade. It's time was 34 minutes 54 seconds which belied its tag of social team. It is now becoming an honour to be chosen for this team. Having run for it in the Lovelocks or Ponydales one can truly call oneself a "Typical Leith Runner".

Race Three:

(course approx. 4 x 500m)

Boys 12 & Under Race
The Leith Boys No. 1 team of Sebastian Sole, Reuben Knox, Tim Horton and Andrew Koens finished third in this increasingly competitive grade.

Girls 12 & Under Race
The Leith Girls No. 1 team of Rebecca Thomas, Natalie Pascoe, Alice Cuthbert, and Erin Knox finished fourth in this grade.

Mixed 12 & Under Race
The Leith Blue Mixed team of Caleb Bennett, Thomas Beagley, Marcus Beagley and Isabella Bennett finished 4th while the Leith White Mixed team of Daniel Ashton, Anna Ashton, Bruce Knox and George Sinclair finished fifth.

Report Update in progress - 24-May-2008 12:49 PM

General Information and details about the Ponydales:

The Ponydales are organised by:

Leith Harrier & Athletic Club Inc.

Saturday 17^th May 2008

Venue:  Dunedin Pony Club facility, Three Mile Hill Road, Halfway Bush, opposite the Dalziel Road intersection.
Race 1
12:45pm, 4 x 2000 metres
Masters Men 35, Masters Men 50+
Boys 16 & Under
Composite/Social/Mixed
Entry fee: $6 per team member

Race 2
1:35pm, 4 x 2000 metres
Open Women (including W19 & under)
Masters Women 35
Girls 16 & under
Entry fee: $6 per team member

Race 3
2:25pm, 4 x 650 metres approx
Mixed 12 and under
No entry fees

Race 4
2:40pm, 4 x 3000 metres
Open Men (including M19 & under)
Entry fee: $6 per team member

Download Entry Form (.xls)25KB

Entries close on TUESDAY 13h MAY 2008 AT 6:00PM with Margaret Knox 83 Glenross Street, Dunedin, phone 4766288, email athleticsotago@xtra.co.nz (email option preferred)
Please enter first names as well as surnames on entry forms.
Ages for Masters is age on the day of the race, for age group teams is age as at the 31/12/2008.
If runners are competing for teams not in their own grade please indicate the runner's grade on the entry form.
ANY TEAM CHANGES MUST BE HANDED IN AT LEAST 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE EVENT WHEN COLLECTING TEAM NUMBERS
Entry fees must be paid at time of entry or at the latest on the day of the race.
Entry fees are not refundable after closing date.
All team numbers must be returned together to the box provided. Clubs will be invoiced for missing team numbers.

BBQ food and drinks will be available for people to purchase during the afternoon.

Afternoon tea and the prize giving will be held in the Pony Club rooms following the completion of the final race. Prizes will be awarded depending on the number of entries received in each grade.
NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY

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