29th
Leith Cross Country Relays
Ponydales
Report 2009
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Updated
Friday, 29-May-2009 0:31 AM
Senior
Men's Photo Album
Race Four - Senior Men's Race (grades SM and
M19)
It was
a great day for Caversham in the Senior Men's Race on
Saturday. With the Caversham No. 1 team of
Lyndon Brown, Tony Payne, Bevan Stevens and Peter Meffan
winning a thrilling race from Ariki Senior Men's No.
1 team and the Caversham No. 2 team finishing fourth
in this highly competitive grade, what more could one
ask for?
Well,
Lyndon "Browno" Brown provided it.
A magnificent duel with Hill City's Ollie O'Sullivan
on the first lap had only 2 seconds separating them
at the changeover. Browno grabbing fastest time of the
day with 9 minutes 7 seconds, and Ollie second fastest
with 9 minutes 9 seconds. Luke Hurring's 2008 course
record of 8:53 however remains safe until next year.
However, "one man doth not
a team make" and it showed as the race ran its
course for teams contending the podium finishes. Caversham's
Tony "T-Pain" Payne knew he had to maintain
the momentum and he proved equal to the task. The young
M19 Hill City runner Alex Gorrie (equal 3rd fastest
M19) kept up the pressure on the Caversham team and
did not allow T-Pain to run away from him over the tough
course - a mean task indeed. At the changeover, just
7 seconds separated Caversham and Hill City. A looming
danger at this stage was the omnicent Ariki No. 1 team,
which had been kept in the hunt with solid runs from
Callan Moody and Chris "Weddz" Weddell.
The redoubtable steeplechaser
Bevan "Quadzilla" Stevens set about the task
of maintaining Caversham's slender lead. While Hill
City's young M19 runner William Scorgie knew he had
his work cut out for him running against Stevens and
Nathan "Guns" Baxter (3rd fastest SM). Guns
brought Ariki back into contention for second place
and perhaps a chance of winning the race. At the last
changeover, Stevens had extended Caversham's lead to
a significant 30 seconds over Hill City who had been
kept in second spot by Scorgie, with Gun's effort placing
Ariki 1 in third spot just 2 seconds back.
With Caversham's M19 runner,
Peter Meffan (fastest M19) scampering away to complete
the last lap, it was left to Hill City's M19 runner
Campbell Garry (2nd fastest M19) and Ariki's tough Dougal
Thorburn to contend for second place whilst still chasing
Caversham's Meffan for a hope of winning outright, despite
the 30 second lead Caversham had at this stage.
The greater strength and endurance
of Thorburn won out in the end against the younger Campbell
Garry, however Garry put up a magnificent fight in keeping
Hill City within 15 seconds of getting second place.
Thorburn hurled Ariki into second place 29 seconds behind
the resurgent Caversham team with Meffan bringing them
home for a fine win in 37 minutes 23 seconds, just 24
seconds adrift of the course record set by Ariki in
2007 of 36:59. Ariki's time was 37:52, and Hill City
finished in 38:07.
While the battle for podium finishes
was going on, another was unfolding for fourth place
between Caversham 2 and Leith with just four seconds
separating these two teams at the end. Caversham's win
in this duel provided the famous club with two teams
in the top four. A special Leith report will be available
during the week on this intriguing battle.
Congratulations to Caversham
on a fine win and to the other teams for making this
such an exciting event to watch.
report by Marc Boulle
Senior
Women's Photo Album
Race Two - Senior Women's Race (grades SW and
W19)
The Hill City Senior Women's No. 1 team of Shireen
Crumpton, Paula Whiting, Rebekah Greene and Rachel Kingsford
held on to the title for Hill City for another year
after an exciting tussle with University Senior Women's
No. 1 team of Barbara Roy, Cassi Knight, Andrea Peat
and Madeline Munro. They did so in fine style breaking
the Open Women's record of 33:21 set in 2008 by Hill
City to post a new record of 32:45. Showing how competitive
this race was - the old record was also broken by the
University No. 1 team who finished in 33:17.
There was a fierce battle between the young University
W19 Barbara Roy (fastest time for W19 and overall) and
Hill City's Shireen Crumpton (fastest SW) on the first
lap. Roy won this duel ensuring that Cassi Knight (2nd
fastest SW) would have a three second advantage on Hill
City's Paula Whiting at the changeover. Knight continued
the good work done by Roy and extended Uni's lead to
13 seconds at the second changeover.
Hill City's Rebekah Greene (2nd Fastest W16) has been
in good form this year and she was able to successfully
overhaul Uni's Andrea Peat (2nd Fastest W19) to bring
Hill City into the lead with a 14 second advantage over
Uni at the last changeover.
Uni's Madeline Munro tried gamely to make some impact
on Hill City's lead but with the well performed Rachel
Kingsford as Hill City's last runner it was always going
to be a tough ask. In the end Kingsford extended her
team's lead to bring Hill City home by 32 seconds over
a brave University team.
Back alone in third place was the game Leith team of
Kirsty Morris, Sue Cuthbert (fastest MW35), Rebecca
Keat and Louisa Andrews (2nd Fastest MW35), which never
gave up on the notion of claiming second place despite
falling off the pace set by the first two teams. A more
detailed report on this team's performance will be available
in the special Leith focus report later during the week.
Well done to all the teams in this race on making this
a memorable racing event.
report by Marc Boulle
Men
16 Photo Album
Race One - Men 16 and Under
Hill City were always going to be a force in this race
with four teams out of five entered. Hill City No. 1
consisting of Ben Jowsey (3rd Fastest M16), Toby Batchelor
(2nd Fastest M16), Michael Ogle and Cameron McNoe (fastest
M16) won this race in convincing style with all four
boys in the team not having their individual times bettered
by anyone in the competing teams. The winning time was
31:14 which was over three minutes faster than the second
placed Hill City 2 team, with the Hill City 3 team filling
third spot.
It was great to see the healthy competition amongst
these junior runners who are very much the future of
the sport.
report by Marc Boulle
Women
16 Photo Album
Race Two - Women 16 and Under
The Ariki team of Anna-Lisa Uttley (fastest W16 and
new record holder in 8:00), Anna Kean (second fastest
W16), Caitlin O'Brien and Sian English W14 were comfortable
winners in this race with its lead never being threatened
by second placed Hill City 1. The team broke the record
set by Ariki in 2008 by over a minute. Interestingly
the new record of 35:15 was achieved by a team that
contained the same members but with its members running
different laps to the 2008 vintage.
report by Marc Boulle
Masters
Men 35 Photo Album
Race One - Masters Men 35
Hill City, Ariki or Leith? This was always going to
be a tough one to predict and it took an outstanding
first lap run by Mike Wakelin (fastest MM35 and new
lap record of 7:00) to tip the scales in favour of Hill
City's No. 1 team of Mike Wakelin, Alex McEwan, Andrew
Hall and Richard Murphy, which won an exciting battle
with Leith's No. 1 team for supremacy in this grade.
By beating Leith by the narrow margin of 12 seconds,
Hill City also set a new course record of 30:19 smashing
the old one set by Leith in 2007 by nine seconds.
Mike Wakelin wasted no time in stamping his authority
on first lap proceedings. Leith's Glen Ferguson and
Ariki's Stewart Paul tried gamely to maintain contact
but in the end were left to ensure that either Ariki
or Leith would be the first to chase after Hill City
at the changeover.
With a hefty 43 second start on Leith and 45 seconds
on Ariki, Alex McEwan knew that he would be under extreme
pressure from the experienced David Rush of Leith and
Brent Halley of Ariki. The Mohawk man was equal to the
task and kept a "level" head as he headed
up the first hill. Although Rush and Halley made up
a fair bit of ground on him, he nevertheless kept Hill
City in the front by 19 seconds at the changeover.
This advantage was to prove decisive as Leith's John
Bayne set about reducing the lead even further. The
similarity to the Lovelocks was apparent at this stage
as Leith tried desperately to get back into contention.
Bayne's effort against the in-form Andrew Hall was awesome
as he made more inroads into Hill City's lead to leave
Leith 13 seconds off the pace at the last changeover.
The depth of Leith's Master Men's talent began to show
here as the Leith No. 2 team threatened the third placed
Ariki team. Julian O'Hagen of Leith 2 made a serious
dent into Ariki's podium ambitions by bring Leith 2
to within 13 seconds of Ariki.
Hill City's Richard Murphy (3rd Fastest MM35) thought
he was going to have it all his own way on the last
lap, but Leith's Alan Funnell (2nd Fastest MM35 and
record holder) had other ideas as he chased after the
younger master runner and in a never-say-die effort
maintained the pressure that brought Leith to within
12 seconds of victory. This was a great victory indeed
for the quality Hill City team.
Meanwhile battle for the last podium position unfolded
between Ariki and Leith 2, with Leith's Paul Beauvais
increasing the lead even further with a quality run
of his own to bring Leith 2 home comfortably by 24 seconds
over the fourth placed Ariki 1 team and one minute behind
the Leith team.
Masters
Women 35 Photo Album
Race Two - Masters Women 35
The Caversham team of Marion Maxwell (3rd fastest MW),
Claire Giles, Maria Sleeman and Christine Montgomery
were the favourites in this race. The biggest threat
to Caversham's title ambitions was the strong Leith
MW50 team.
Maxwell got Caversham off to a very good start by ensuring
a 27 second lead over second placed Ariki at the changeover.
Ariki's Julie Wilson's excellent run (fastest MW50 runner)
put Leith under serious threat of not placing above
3rd position, despite a stout effort by Viv Eyers on
the first lap.
However, Leith's Jan Craig (2nd fastest MW50 runner)
was not going to let Caversham's Claire Giles and Ariki's
Michelle Bernadek-Burrows run away with it. She set
about the task of bringing Leith back into contention
for a win with a great run which saw Leith cut into
Caversham's lead to have Leith 32 seconds behind Caversham
at the changeover and a 48 second lead on third placed
Ariki. Caversham's Maria Sleeman's solid run still ensured
that Caversham enjoyed considerable advantage when she
handed to the fast Christine Montgomery despite an excellent
run by Leith's Jan Brosnahan (3rd fastest MW50 runner)
who had cut into Ariki's lead somewhat by the time she
handed to Jill Alexander at the last changeover.
Montgomery knew that she had to run to her ability
to ensure victory for Caversham, and she did not disappoint
in bringing the Caversham team home in a well earned
first place with 41 seconds to spare from Leith's Jill
Alexander who had battled gamely to keep in touch. Ariki's
Carol Chettleburgh was unable to make any impression
on Leith's lead and had to settle for a creditible third
place.
The competitiveness between these teams is amazing
and it is always a joy to watch as the battle unfolds
over the tough Ponydales course.
Masters
Men 50 Photo Album
Race One - Masters Men 50
The Ariki No. 1 team of Phil Napper, Mike Wilson, Gene
Sanderson and Alan Nichols (3rd fastest MM50) arrived
at the Ponydales with all the intentions of living up
to its status as slight favourites over defending champions
Leith in what was going to be an amazingly close encounter
of the muddy kind. The surviving members of Leith's
2008 team, Graham Anderson and Marc Boulle, knew that
this was going to be a tough day at the office.
Phil Napper, fresh from a good summer track season,
began proceedings with a steady run up the first hill
with Leith's Lachie Ashton close by. Ashton who is making
a comeback to competitive running decided that reputations
meant nothing on this tough course and he provided Leith
with a welcome lead of 8 seconds at the first changeover
by breaking away from the tough Napper. This run by
Ashton had helped set Leith up with the chance of victory.
It was left to Marc Boulle (still lap record holder
from 2007 at that stage) to defend this lead against
the improved Mike Wilson, a man who had had the better
of Boulle on the track during the 2008/9 summer season.
Wilson set about the task of overhauling Boulle and
although he made serious inroads into Leith's lead,
he was unable to bring Ariki into the lead by the second
changeover with Leith still holding a slight advantage
of 2 seconds. The battle between Boulle and Wilson was
also mixed with a bit of humour as the diminutive M14
runner, Oliver Chignell of Hill City who started the
lap at the same time as Boulle, decided that he was
not going to let these giants of the dales run away
from him. With legs pumping away faster than Usain Bolt's,
he outsprinted both Boulle and Wilson down the last
hill to pip both master 50 runners at the post. Watch
out Bolt, there is a new kid on the block, and he's
got tons of heart to mix with his stamina and speed.
Now it was "Anderson against Sanderson".
Leith's over 60 runner Graham Anderson knew that it
would be a tough ask to maintain the slender lead against
the redoubtable Gene Sanderson who also had had a good
track season. However, as always in his unflappable
way, Anderson proved that age for age he is one of the
most well performed runners in Otago at present. He
did not panic but set about his task with vigour keeping
a steady pace throughout even when Sanderson took Ariki
into the lead. Sanderson knew that he had to build up
a big buffer for the last leg because Leith's fastest
runner, Brian Pascoe (fastest MM50 and new 8:05 record
holder) loomed ever large as the biggest threat to his
team's victory aspirations.
Sanderson did what was asked of him by providing Ariki's
Alan Nichols (3rd fastest MM50) with a lead of 25 seconds
at the last changeover. Leith's Pascoe knew that his
team's aspirations now lay solely with him and as always
he put everything into what appeared to be an impossible
task. Not allowing himself to panic he set a steady
pace up the first hill already beginning to make inroads
into Nichol's lead. Nichol's knew that he was unlikely
to match Pascoe on this course but he kept a level head
and ran to his current strength. As Pascoe inched ever
closer Nichol's hoped that he could hold on for his
team. Down the last hill to the finish it was neck and
neck with Pascoe emerging slightly in front at the last
turn into the 40 metre straight. With the screams of
the spectators ringing in their ears, these two sprinted
for the line, and with Nichol's putting in a supreme
effort and looking to edge in front again, Pascoe's
legs gave out and he fell as he crossed the line in
a finish so close that both teams were given the same
time. However, Nichol's had done enough to ensure that
Ariki claimed a well deserved victory in the most exciting
finish of the day and arguably of the relay's history.
In the battle for third spot, a solid all round team
effort and an excellent run by the Ariki 2 team's Phil
Dowsett won the day, despite the presence of Ian McDonald
in the Caversham team.
What a race and what great running from guys who just
never seem to lose much of their youth and competitive
spirit. This was a great advertisement for what over
50 running is all about.
by Marc Boulle
Composite/Social/Mixed
Photo Album
Race Two - Composite/Social/Mixed
Gaining in popularity and quality is the composite/social/mixed
grade race held this year in conjunction with the Women's
grades race two.
There were some great battles in this race, with the
winning team most likely to come from Civil Service
1 or the Caversham Puddlers. The Civil Service team
of Tom Clark SM, Peter Clark MM50, Robert Homan MM35,
and Peter Frew MM35 looked the stronger of the two and
so it proved as Tom Clark (fastest composite runner)
took the race by the scruff of the neck on the first
lap, despite having to chase after Mitch Hopping of
Caversham Puddlers who started as if his life depended
on it. Clark opened up a 43 second gap on Hill City
Mixed Men's Glen Chisholm SM (equal 2nd fastest composite
runner) from Hill City at the changeover and a 58 second
gap on the more threatening Caversham Puddlers. This
was to prove decisive.
Peter Clark made the other teams' tasks even more difficult
by being the fastest runner on the second lap and increased
Civil Service's lead to 57 seconds on Hill City despite
a great run by Adrienne Christie SW. Although Caversham
Puddlers were only lying third at this stage it was
inevitable that with runners of the calibre of Royce
Madigan and Andrew Harper still to run, that this team
would come into contention and treaten Hill City's second
place aspirations. Olivia Robb Caversham's women's 19
runner had run a solid lap to keep her team in the hunt
for first or second despite her team lying third and
87 seconds off the pace at the second changeover.
Civil Service's Robert Homan MM35 knew that he would
have to be at his best to keep both the chasing teams
at bay. The young Royce Madigan began the chase bringing
his team into second place by the third changeover,
achieving fastest time for lap 3 passing Hill City's
James Lang MM40 in doing so. Caversham Puddlers were
now lying second just 44 seconds behind Civil Service
as Peter Frew ran to protect his team's lead with the
fast Andrew Harper (equal fastest composite time) of
Caversham determined to overhaul him over the last tough
2km of the race. Peter Frew drew on all his strength
doing enough to bring his team home for a well deserved
victory margin of 21 seconds. Andrew Harper cemented
Caversham Puddler's second placing while Hill City Mixed
Men had to be content with third position after an heroic
attempt at matching the stronger two teams.
by Marc Boulle
Children's Photo Album (out
soon)
Race Three - Children's race
The Hill City Boys No. 1 team of Ben Scorgie (equal
3rd fastest B12), Peter Malteno (2nd fastest B12), Oliver
Chignell and Oliver Knopp (equal 3rd fastest) were convincing
winners of this race over the Ariki Boys team of Josh
Browne, Elliot Cross, Hamish Burrows and Josh Browne
(again). Initially Hill City Boys thought that that
they had a real fight their hands as Ariki Boys' first
runner Josh Brown blasted home in fastest B12 lap time
of 1 minute 56 seconds to put his team in front by 12
seconds. However Ariki's hopes for contention did not
last long as the overall strength of the Hill City Boys
No. 1 team took its toll on its competitors to run out
comfortable winners by 39 seconds over the game Ariki
Boys team.
However, the battle for second place was really intense
with three teams very much in the picture. It was so
close that the Caversham White team of Brad Horne, Ben
Rowley, Ross Stinson and Josh Thorn and the Hill City
Girls finished with equal times with the Caversham team
given line honours for second.
The Hill City Girls team of Sam McAuley (fastest G12),
Rosie Craven, Lilly Purdon and Francesca Chignell held
out the strong Ariki Girls team of Hanna English (2nd
fastest G12), Melissa Halley (3rd Fastest G12), Rachel
Horn and Erin O'Brien by just 2 seconds in securing
its third placing. This was definitely one of the most
exciting finishes of the day.
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