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Leith Harrier & Athletic ClubDunedin, New ZealandHarriers, Roadrunning, Track and Field,
Mountain Running, Recreational Walking
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Clubrooms:
Chingford Park, North East Valley. Postal Address: PO Box 1507 Dunedin |
Winter Harrier Reports for 2009Note: These are summary reports with summary results only. For full results go to results page
1. Pre-season Club Run, Chingford Park, Saturday 29 March, 1.45pm Leith re-introduced the pre-season club run and walk this year and although it was not well attended despite the glorious running and walking conditions, it did afford an opportunity to check that all was well with the club premises such as the hot water for showers and the general condition of the ablutions and kitchen areas. Bill Kenny arrived all the way from Waikouaiti and tried to get someone to run with him down North East Valley road for a shorter run, but to no avail. One pack consisting of 8 runners headed towards the Organ Pipes via Bethune's Gully. Kirsty Morris and Elliot O'Sullivan decided to turn back at Bethune's Gully for a 30 minute run around the BMX track area, while Marc Boulle and Jim Kerse decided to follow the main bunch up to Mt Cargill at a more "leisurely" pace. The main bunch which included Geoff Williamson, Alan Funnell, Graig Grant, Paul Beauvais and Mark O'Donnell headed at a fast pace to the Organ Pipes and returned via North Road, while Boulle and Kersie visited the top of Mt Cargill to check the view before returning back down the track to the club via Bethune's Gully for a well earned hot shower. We are looking forward to next week when more members
will turn up for the opening club runs and and walks from Chingford
Park.
2. Opening Club Run, Chingford Park, Saturday 5 April, 1.45pm Leith held its opening club run and walk at Chingford
Park on Saturday afternoon. Many of the packs were small due to
the impact of the Three Peaks Mountain Race which took place the
next day, Sunday 5 April. The other packs took in the Botanical Gardens, Woodhaugh Gardens and Ross Creek areas. Janis Ashton and new member Robyn Williams took in the Gardens area while Peter Hughes and Valerie Ashton ran to the Gardens traffic lights and headed straight back to the club. Sue Cuthbert and Richard Hendry (both to run in the Three Peaks the next day), did an easy run to Bethune's Gully and back. Ron McLay-Barnes, Grant McDougall were part of a small pack that transversed the Ross Creek area, while the 8 strong recreational walking group, which included Cliff Donaldson, Keviin Blair, Greg Johnston and Janette Anderson explored the paths around Chingford Park and the Quarry and surrounding areas. 3. Leith Lovelock Relay Trials,
Chingford Park, Saturday 18 April, 1.45pm Perfect still cool and sunny conditions greeted the many runners and spectators who turned out to compete in and watch the Leith Lovelock Relay Trials races held at Chingford Park on Saturday afternoon. Depite having to wait for the race numbers to arrive, race number one was able to start on time at 2.15pm. There was some very keen competition in the 12 and under 375m race with Reuben Knox winning in a close tussle with Sebastian Sole and Alice Cuthbert. Reuben Knox won the Boys 12 and Under title. Sebastian Sole finished second in the B12 and Alice finished first in the G12 grade.. Erin Scott ran a distance of 750m to win the girls 14 and under race. The main mile race was contested by all the junior, open and masters men's and women's grades this year. Neale McLanachan took the lead early on and never relinquished it to be first across the line in a time of 5 minutes. In doing so, he also won the Open Men's title. Andrew Lonie finished second overall to take out the Master Men's 35 title. Third across the line was John Bayne who was second in the Master Men's 35 grade. Geoff Williamson finished fourth overall to attain 2nd position in the Open Men's grade. Kirsty Morris won the Open Women's title comfortably in a time of 5 minutes 43 seconds. Rebecca Keat came second in the Open Women's grade while Sue Cuthbert was third woman across the line in winning the Master Women's 35 grade. Brian Pascoe won the Master Men's 50 title. The Maiden Mile had four contestants this year. Paul Beauvais won this grade and also finished 6th overall and fourth in the Master Men's 35 grade. The club also welcomed new members Peter Green and Kerri Lumb and also a returned member from 19 years ago, Garth Christiansen. All three participated in the Lovelock Trials. Thanks go the race organisers, starters and timekeepers for their help in setting up the course and making sure that it was an enormously successfull day. The summer trophy presentations also took place with Kirsty Morris and Neale McLanachan on hand to accept their trophies for their achievements during the summer track and field season 4. Club Run, Chingford Park, Saturday 25 April, 1.45pm Leith members enjoyed a great day of running and walking
from Chingford Park on Saturday afternoon. 5. Lovelock Relays 2009, Saturday 2 May 2009, University Oval, Logan Park Leith fielded 12 teams across the grades in the Lovelock Relays on Saturday. The Masters Men's No. 1 team of David Rush, Andrew Lonie, John Bayne (4.35 third fastest time), Alan Funnell, Paul Beauvais and Glen Ferguson won an exciting race winning by 12 seconds from Hill City MM1. On the first lap, Mike Wakelin opened up a large lead on Leith's David Rush. Rush never gave an inch and despite being surprised by Wakelins initial burst, held on well to post a good time. Andrew Lonie pulled back two seconds on Andrew Hall on the second lap, but some were getting a tad worried that Hill City may be able to pull off somewhat of a surprise victory. However, John Bayne had the run of his life to gain Leith 25 seconds on the third lap in overhauling Kevin Duggan in the process to give Leith a 7second advantage at the end of lap three. Alan Funnell continued the good work, stretching Leith's lead to 13 seconds by the end of Lap four. Paul Beavais had a solid run to have Leith 19 seconds in front of Hill City with one lap to go, a gap seemingly impossible for Hill City to breach with the redoubtable Glen Ferguson the man assigned the task of bringing Leith home in first place. And it did prove too much for Hill City's Richard Murphy, who although running an excellent time was only able to take seven seconds off of Leith's lead. In the end Leith had to fight all the way against a never-say-die Hill City Masters team winning with just 12 seconds to spare. A classic race indeed. The Leith's MM2 team consisting of Dave Sharp, Brian Pascoe, Patrick Manning, Marc Boulle (Captain), Julian O'Hagan and Stu Hodges finished fourth. The Leith MM3 team consisting of Peter Hughes, Rene Arsen, Steve Prescott, Grant McDougall, Graham Anderson (Captain) and Lachie Ashton finished seventh. The Leith Masters Women's team of Jill Alexander, Janice Ashton, Jan Brosnahan and Jan Craig (5.40 third fastest time) finished second in the Masters Women's race. The Leith Senior Women's No. 1 team of Kirsty Morris, Rebecca Keat, Rosie Hodson and Alice Barach finished fourth in the Senior Women's A grade race. The Leith Senior Women's No. 2 team of Sarah Toomey,
Meghan Clarke, Kerri Lumb and Penny Leith ran very well to finish
third in the Women's B grade race. Despite having three runners who had earlier competed
for the Masters Men, the Leith Senior Men's A team of Andrew Lonie
(2nd fastest MM35 in 4:29), Jason Palmer, William Hyndman, John
Bayne, Alan Funnell and Glen Ferguson acquitted itself well in this
competitive grade. One of the highlights for Leith was Andrew Lonie's
fast time in this race. He ran 13secs faster the second time around
which would have made him second fastest Master Men's runner on
the day, behind Mike Wakelin. Unfortunately, his MM35+ grade was
not put on the team change entry for this race. The Senior Men's B team consisting of Peter Green, Murray McCloy, Adrian Arsen, Brian Pascoe, Garth Christensen and Stu Hodges finished 6th in the Men's B grade race. It was good to see the likes of young Adrian Arsen taking on the older athletes, and Garth Christensen making a comeback to Leith running who in his sixties still has what it takes to run a good 1500m. The 12 and Under teams had a great time with the Leith Boys Blue team of Reuben Knox, Sebastian Sole, Mica Goldsmith-Lonie, and Tom Horton finishing fourth overall. Congratulations to all Leith competitors, the helpers, lap stewards, race organisers and officials for making this an enjoyable day of running. 6. Joe Cowie Memorial Handicap races, Chingford Park, Saturday 9 May Steve Prescott won the Joe Cowie Memorial Handicap 3 Mile Race, which took place on Saturday 9 May 2009 in cold cloudy conditions at Chingford Park. Off a handicap of 3 minutes with only Valerie Ashton, Penny Leith and Peter Nees in front of him, he kept up a steady pace to overhaul these three over the tough three mile multiple lap course. Once he had passed Penny Leith, he set about keeping out the fast finishing Megan Balchin, Andrew Perry, Julian O'Hagen and Patrick Manning. Penny Leith did not panic and held on well for second place. Megan Balchin was next to finish with a well-deserved third place. Fastest time of 16 minutes 11 seconds went to Neale McLanachan who was off the scratch time of 9 minutes 50 seconds. McLanachan missed equalling the course record set by Andrew Lonie last year (2008) of 16 minutes 10 seconds. The Open Women's course record set by Kirsty Morris last year (2008) of 17 minutes 43 seconds remains intact with Kirsty Morris (18:14) unable to repeat her performance from last year. Earlier the 12 and Under and 14 and Under grades had run distances of approximately 800m and 1.8km. Back to Menu
For a full report on this event visit the Ponydales 2009 Homepage >> Ponydales 2009 Homepage. 8. Club run, Brockville Community Church Hall, Brockville Road, Saturday 23 May, 1.45pm Although
there was a small turnout due to inclement weather and the Barnes
XC taking place the next day. 9. Barnes Cross Country, Kettle Park, Dunedin, Sunday 24 May Andrew Lonie (6th position, 9th fastest time) was the first Leith
runner to finish in the Open Men's race at the Barnes Cross Country
Handicap races on Sunday at Kettle Park. Neale McLanachan (13th
position, 7th fastest) was the fastest Leith athlete in the field.
The team of Lonie, David Rush, McLanachan, Jason Palmer, Rene Arsen
and Patrick Manning finished third. 10. Combined club run with Civil Service, Chingford Park, Saturday 30 May, 1.45pm Leith welcomed Civil Service Athletics club to its runs and walks
from Chingford Park on Saturday. Despite it being the Queen's Birthday
weekend, there was a very good turnout from both clubs. The weather
held up well although there was a distinct bite to the Southerly
wind, a precursor to a wintry blast predicted for overnight on Saturday. 11. Edmond Cup Cross Counry Races, Wingatui Race Course, Saturday 6 June Kirsty Morris won the Open Women's race at the Edmond Cup Cross
Country races held at Wingatui Race Course on Saturday. She spearheaded
the Leith team of Morris, Sue Cuthbert (2nd) and Rosie Hodson to
a fine win over Caversham. 12. Leith XC Champs and Chingford Challenge, Chingford Park,
Saturday 13 June (This is a copy of the report on the main Leith XC Champs and Chingford Challenge pages where more information including course maps and results can be sourced) 2009 Chingford Challenge Leith regained the Chingford Challenge Shield from University of Otago Harriers after a tough tussle on Saturday 13 June 2009 at Chingford Park in cold but sunny conditions. Neale McLanachan returned to form in splendid fashion by taking charge from go and led from start to finish to win the Leith XC Senior Men's title as well as spearheading the Leith team to a fine win. Barbara Roy Uni's W19 star runner and Leith's Kirsty Morris fought out a tremendous duel with Roy winning by just one second from Morris in the Open Women's race. Uni won the Open Women's team's race and Morris won the Leith XC Senior Women's title in the process. The Men's and Women's Open grades started together with the women running 2 laps of 1.75 km around the Chingford Park grounds and the men to run 3 laps. With the University women putting in a great team effort to place University 6 points ahead once all the women had finished, it was up to the men to complete the last lap to decide which club was going to come out tops. The University Team of Roy, Maddie Munro, Andrea Peat and Charlotte Munro with 15 points, beat the Leith team of Morris, Sue Cuthbert, Megan Balchin and Jan Craig with 21 points, by a 6 point margin. Neale McLanachan seemed determined to show that Leith meant business this year and this seemed to galvinise the Leith runners to put in an all out effort. Geoff Williamson showed prominently for much of the race while Glen Ferguson and Jason Palmer were always thereabouts. In the end Ferguson put in his trademark finish to stay ahead of the fast finishing Palmer and Williamson. McLanachan meanwhile had literally run away from the rest of the field to his fine win. Matt Gibbons (6th Overall) was the first University runner to finish. Elliot O'Sullivan (Hill City guest runner) also put in a fine run to finish in third place (non-counting placing). The Leith team of McLanachan, Ferguson, Palmer, Williamson, Alan Funnell and David Rush with 22 points, beat the University team of Gibbons, Luke O'Connor, David Taylor, Sam Jordine, Aka Fakareng and Ken McDonald with 62 points, by 40 points. With the Women's and Men's scores combined, Leith regained the Chingford Challenge Shield by 34 points. Well done to Leith and also to the University runners who competed in such great spirit. We wish them luck for next year's challenge.
Leith XC Championships 2009 Neale McLanachan was a comfortable winner of the Leith XC Championships held in conjunction with the Chingford Challenge. Jason Palmer was the next Leith SM to finish with Geoff Williamson third. Glen Ferguson was the first Leith MM35 runner home to win the Leith MM35 XC title while Brian Pascoe put in a steady run to win the Leith MM50 XC title. Kirsty Morris won the Senior Women's Leith XC Championships in her great duel with the W19 runner Barbara Roy of University. Megan Balchin was second Leith SW home and Kerri Lumb finished third in the SW grade. Sue Cuthbert took out the Leith MW35 title and Jan Craig the MW50 title. Adrian Arsen won the M14 title running one lap of the 1.75km course. Guest runner Joel Uttley, in a "keenly" contested race finished with the same in a well-orchestrated photo finish. Sebastian Sole won the B12 title and Claudia Sole won the G12 title over the shorter 1km course. Thanks to all those who helped to set up the course, the timekeepers, marshals, caterers and the competitors themselves who made this a great day of cross-country running. 13. Club run, Chingford Park, Saturday 20 June, 1.45pm Leith members enjoyed runs and walks from its Chingford Park clubrooms
on Saturday afternoon. 14. Combined club run with Hill City, Chingford Park, Saturday 27 May Leith hosted the Hill City Harriers and Athletic Club for runs
and walks from its Chingford Park clubrooms on Saturday afternoon. Leith would like to thank the Hill City members for accepting Leith's invitation for these runs and walks from Chingford Park. Hill City will be hosting Leith members later on in the year. 15. Otago Half-Marathon Championships 2009, Rosebank Lodge Balclutha
Half-Marathon, Balclutha, Sun 28 June 2009 Brian Pascoe, returning to form after recent illness, showed that he will be hard to beat this winter in the Master Men's 50 grade, when he won the MM50 Otago Half-Marathon title in a time of 1hr 20min 2secs finishing 6th overall. Geoff Williamson finished third for a podium finish in the Open Men's Otago Half-Marathon Championships in a time of 1hr 17min 22sec. John Bayne was third MM35 across the line, but was not recorded as a registered entrant. However, he did well to finish with a time of 1hr 20min 18sec to be 7th overall across the line. Sue Cuthbert kept the Leith flag flying high with a great runaway win in the Otago Master Women's 35 grade Half-Marathon Championships with an excellent 1hr 24min 26 effort. Leith's Senior Women showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the foreseeable future with Louisa Andrew finishing 2nd in the Otago Open Women's Half-Marathon Championships for 2009 in a time of 1hr 24min 19sec. Rosie Hodson finished third, while just behind her was Alice Barach in fourth position. Kerri Lumb was not to be outdone either finishing with a creditable 7th position in the Otago Champs. The associated 10km race also produced some stirling Leith performances. Kirsty Morris reinforced the strength of Leith's senior women's running, by winning the Open Women's 10km race in 37min 39secs, Neale McLanachan had a good run finishing second in the Open Men's 10km run, with a time of 34min 30sec. David Rush (36:32)won the Master Men's 35 grade in the 10km race, while Richard Hendry (37:11) finished second. All in all, this was a very satisfying result for Leith athletics. 16. Otago Cross Country Championships 2009, Waikouaiti Race Course, Sat 11 July 2009 Glen Ferguson (MM35+), Brian Pascoe (MM50+), Louisa Andrew (MW35+),
Erin Knox (G10) all won their grades at the Athletics Otago Cross
Country Championships, which took place at the Waikouaiti Race Course
on Saturday. Thanks to all those Leith members who helped set up and take down the course, especially near the end when the weather crashed. 17. Peninsula Relay 2009, Dunedin, Sat 18 July 2009 Although Leith could not repeat the amazing first, second and third place finishers of last year, the team still ran well with the Leith Men's No. 1 team achieving third fastest time overall and the Leith Women No. 1 team achieving a fourth place finish. See reports below. Leith Men's No. Team report by Racin Jason The Leith Men's No. 1 team started the Peninsula Relay from a handicap of 58.15 with the strong teams of Caversham and Hill City following only a few minutes behind. With the next team ahead of us by ten minutes we had some hard running to do to catch up. Glen Ferguson with some assistance from his Garmin Forerunner GPS put in a massive effort over the tough first leg from John Wilson Drive to the Shiel Hill Tavern to post second fastest time behind Caversham's Daniel Balchin. At the Shiel Hill Tavern, Glen handed over to ultra marathon man John Bayne who ran the 3.2km leg to Centre Road. Considering this leg was about 95km short for John he put in an amazing effort to also finish with second fastest time. Arriving at Centre Road screaming in pain he handed over to Geoff Williamson who ran the tough undulating leg to Pukehiki. Unfortunately for Geoff, Caversham's Bevin Stevens was too strong and passed him towards the end of the leg. Next to run was 'Racin' Jason who ran the 7.1km mostly downhill leg to Portobello. With Hill City runner Mike Wakelin close behind it was not going to be an easy run. Next to run was Richard Hendry who ran the short but tough 5th Leg. Richard put in a huge performance managing to stay within reach of Hill City runner William Scorgie and posting third fastest time along the way. Richard passed over to Alan Funnell, who ran the 6th Leg just as the Southerly wind picked up, but the wind was no match for Alan who ran third fastest time on this leg without the support of his team who were resting at Macandrew Bay eating hot chips and coffee. Most teams put their strongest runner on the 8.4km, 7th Leg, and for Leith Men that runner was Neale 'legs' McLanachan. From the very start the team could tell Neale was putting in 110% from the look on his face. Battling the strong Southerly and other tough runners such as Ollie O'Sullivan and Dougal Thorburn; Neale reached the change over on Portsmouth drive absolutely shattered and handed over to our last runner Dave Rush. Fortunately for the Leith Men's team, Dave had decided not to bike
from Oamaru that morning and on fresh legs, ran at a blistering
pace 'rushing' to the finish line posting third fastest time. Leith Women's team The Leith Women's team of Sue Cuthbert, Alice Barach, Louisa Andrew, Rosie Hodson, Megan Balchin, Jan Craig, Kirsty Morris and Rebecca Keat put in a tremendous team effort to finish in fourth position in a time of 2hrs 37mins 26sec. Sue Cuthbert put in a steady run to get things underway for the women's team and was 8th fastest on this 4.4km leg. She handed to Alice Barach at Shiel Hill Tavern who ran well on this tough mostly uphill 3.2km leg to Centre Road to keep Leith in a strong position. Next up was the in form master women's runner Louisa Andrew who finished 9th fastest for the 4.7km third leg. Rosie Hodson arrived about 5 seconds before Andrew finished her leg and still dressed in hockey gear proceeded to undertake a "superwoman" clothes change. She managed to do the gear change in about 4 seconds and was on hand to start the 4th leg on time, still wearing her hockey skirt. Hodson put in a concerted effort on the mostly downhill 7.1km leg to Portobello keeping the team in for line honours. Waiting to take over for the 3.2km leg 5 was Megan Balchin who showed a glimpse of a welcome return to form with a gutsy run to finish with 10th fastest time in Broad Bay. Master Women runner Jan Craig took over here for the 4.9km run to Macandrew Bay, a mostly flat run. Jan Craig ran steadily to pass to Leith's top women runner, Kirsty Morris for the long 8.4km haul to Teviot Street. The wind was starting to pick up and it was getting colder. However, this did not stop Morris from running an excellent leg to finish with a fast time of 31mins 4seconds on a leg which most teams had put their strongest runners. When Morris handed over to Rebecca Keat for the last 3.9km leg to Wickliffe Street, the team was well placed for a top finish and so this proved to be true, as Keat brought the team home for a well-earned fourth place. Leith Men No. 3 Leith Men No. 2 The Leith Men No. 2 team of David Sharp, Patrick Manning, Chris
Sole, Brian Pascoe, Andrew Lonie, Rene Aarsen, Paul Beauvais and
Ray Knox finished 17th overall and 8th fastest time. Highlights
for this team was Patrick Manning (6th on leg 2), Brian Pascoe (6th
on leg 4) despite having to avoid a wayward cyclist at Portobello,
Andrew Lonie (5th fastest on leg 5) despite coming back from a serious
ankle break, Ray Knox (6th on leg 8). So three 6th fastest time
finishes and a 5th fastest time finish. Definitely a fine effort
from this team, despite being disadvantaged in the handicaps. 18. Combined club run with Ariki, Chingford Park, Saturday 25 July, 1.45pm Leith hosted Ariki Athletic & Harrier
club for combined runs from Chingford Park on Saturday afternoon.
Fine sunny weather saw a great turnout from both clubs for runs
and walks in the surrounding area. President Peter Hughe welcomed
our guests and congratuled those Leith runners who were selected
for the Athletics Otago Cross Country team to compete in the ANZ
Cross Country Championships on Saturday 1 August in Christchurch. 19. Athletics New Zealand Cross-Country Champs, Christchurch, Saturday 1 August 2009 Glen Ferguson had a brilliant run in the Master Men's 45-49 grade
finishing second with equal fastest time as the winner and also
securing third overall place in the Master Men's grade from 35 upwards.
Louis Andrew also had a great run finishing second in the Master
Women's 35-39 grade as did Jan Craig who finished second in the
Master Women's 50-54 grade. 20. Club run, Chingford Park, Saturday 1 August, 1.45pm A small group of Leith members enjoyed runs and walks from Chingford
Park on Saturday afternoon in fine sunny weather. Many Leith athletes
were in Christchurch competing in the National Cross Country Champs. 21. Combined club run with Caversham, Chingford Park, Saturday 8 August, 1.45pm Leith hosted Caversham Harriers for runs and walks from Chingford
Park on Saturday afternoon in fine sunny weather. Neale McLanachan
led the fast pack, which included Bevan Stevens, Lyndon Brown, John
Bayne, Andrew Lonie and David Rush up North Road for a tough circuit,
which took in Graham's Bush and the Organ Pipes. The medium fast
pack led by Ron McLay-Barnes and Kirsty Morris's huge medium pack
headed up to the Organ Pipes via Bethune's Gully before returning
at a fast clip down North Road. 22. Otago 10km Seniors Road Champs (Clyde/Alexandra Road Races), Alexandra, Saturday 15 August Leith athletes excelled at the Otago 10km Road Championships held
in conjunction with the Clyde to Alexandra Road Races on Saturday
15 August 2009. 23. Club run, Chingford Park, Saturday 22 August, 1.45pm On Saturday Leith members enjoyed runs and walks from Chingford Park. A smaller turnout than usual due to the Otago Junior and Master Women's Road Champs to take place on the Sunday. A fast pack which included Neale McLanachan, Richard Hendry and Ray Knox headed up to the Organ Pipes to return via North Road. A large medium/slow combined pack which included Steve Skilling, Marc Boulle, Megan Clark, Jill Alexander, David Sharp and Lachie Ashton took in Woodhaugh Gardens and most of Ross Creek. Peter Hughes and Jim Flyn took a shorter tour of the Gardens before returning. The walkers enjoyed the sheltered tracks in the Botanic Gardens.
24. Otago Road Championships, Juniors, Masters Women, Open 5km, 10km Handicap, Sunday 23 August On Sunday the Otago Road Championships for Junior and Master Women
grades took place. Sue Cuthbert (18:31) won the Masters Women 35
title over 5km. Erin Knox (9:09) won the G10 title over 2km. Sam
Cuthbert (9:31, 6th B10 2km); Alice Cuthbert (9:04, 4th G12, 2km);
Reuben Knox (8:34, 5th B12, 2km) 25. Hughes Memorial Handicap Road Races, corner Fryatt and Wickliffe Streets, Saturday 29 August On Saturday Leith members competed in the Hughes Memorial Handicap
Road Races. The walkers enjoyed walks around the area. On Saturday 5 September 2009 Leith members competed for Otago and
Leith Harriers in the National Road Champs held from the Caledonian,
Dunedin. 27. Otago Marathon Champs (Open and Masters), Moro Marathon, Dunedin, Sunday 13 September 2009 (awaiting Otago Champ results) Report pending results of Otago Marathon Champs.
28. Port Chalmers to Dunedin and Associated Races, Logan Park, Dunedin, Saturday 19 September 2009 First Leith runner to finish, Alan Funnell (off a tough handicap of 23min) put in a strong challenge for line honours from the outset and was rewarded with a fifth place finish overall (4th male). His time of 44min 6sec gave him seventh fastest time overall. Andrew Lonie (off 25min) made a great comeback from injury to finish with 10th fastest time (45min 34sec) overall. Brian Pascoe was the fastest MM50+ runner finishing in 46min 22sec. The Leith team of Alan Funnell, John Bayne, Brian Pascoe, Sue Cuthbert,
Christine Leith and Megan Balchin finished third. Sue Cuthbert (off 19min) was the first Leith woman to finish achieving
second fastest time of 50min 13sec in this grade despite having
run the marathon the week before. Christine Leith (off 1min 30sec)
was the next Leith woman to finish. Megan Balchin (off 18min) was
the third Leith woman to finish achieving fourth fastest time in
this grade having run the half-marathon the week before. Heidi Aarsen off a handicap of 2min 30sec won the G12 race by just
2 seconds from second placed Alice Cuthbert (off 2min 30sec). Erin
Knox (off 2min) was not far back in third place. Heidi Aarsen also
achieved fastest time of 11min 1sec with Alice Cuthbert second fastest
in 11min 3sec. Leith won the team's prize. |