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A field of close to 50 athletes contested the first race of the Napier Harrier club's Open Handicap series on the demanding Dartmoor cross country course on Saturday. The event was held on the Cadwallader property, and provides the competitors with the biggest hill they will see this season. With the races being held on a multiple lap course, the number of times the hill is encountered is dependant on the distance of the race.
The Junior, Senior and Vet women raced over 5km (1 long lap which included THE hill, and one short lap) so only encountered the big hill once. The junior women showed the way with Kirsten Foulds first across the line, and with the second fastest time of the day at 26:57, while Hayley Sherbourne, racing up a grade from her usual under 16 grade, produced the fastest run of the day at 25:54. Third across the line was Trish Foster (29:14) while Sheila Smidt made up the third fastest run at 27:37. Foster's effort was enough to gain her the HB Cinemas Runner of the Day award for the senior grades.
The U12's 2km race (which does not include the monster hill) was won by Brendan Speakman (12:22) who started from the front of the field and lead all the way in an outstanding effort which garnered him the HB Cinemas Junior Runner of the Day award. Aleesha Heywood (13:54) was second across the line with the following three producing 1st, 2nd and 3rd fastest times respectively in the form of Hogan Green (10:22), Eric Speakman (11:05) and Andre Smith (12:13).
Tom Brooks (41:42) took full advantage of his 'unknown' status to record a victory in his first event with the club, over the 8km senior and vet men combined event. This race saw the athletes tackle the big hill twice with more than one being reduced to a walk by the enormity of the effort. Another to take advantage of relatively unknown status was Randall Tinsley on his return to the club after a number of years absence. His 37:07 effort being enough get him second across the line, while third place went to Chris Corney (30:54) in his first event with the club. While this was Chris' first event with the Napier club having just moved from Rotorua, his status was not entirely unknown after good recent performances at the NZ Track Champs, the New Plymouth Marathon and a 10th placing at last weekend's Rotorua Marathon. Corney's time was the fastest on the day from another athlete backing up from Rotorua, Craig Mathers (31:29). Mathers last weekend result of 19th, combined with Corney's left some pondering whether running a marathon the week before an event was perhaps the ideal training? Kevin Fisher backed up from a win in last weekends Mission Inter-club event to run 3rd fastest time of the day at 32:31.
In the Senior Girls (under 14/16) 3km race the first three across the line also produced the three fastest times of the day and in the same order. First home, despite starting from the back of the field was Kristy Edmundson (13:15) followed by Laura Smidt (14:27) and Sonya Clark (15:36). This event saw the girls tackle the big hill just once but it was the more experienced runners who came through with the lesser trained athletes struggling with the difficulty of the course.
The Senior Boys (under 14/16) 4km event was cleaned up by Aaron Corney. Corney was the only runner to follow the course correctly and this paid dividends for him in the final results, as he received maximum points in his first outing for the club.
Despite the difficult nature of the course the consensus of opinion after the event was that this event is an excellent example of how cross country running should be.
It was great to see some new faces out there at Dartmoor, none less than those that competed in the Senior Women's event. This grade has been very weak for the last few years so it was good to see some competitors, namely Nicole Speakman (awesome woman!), Pauline Summer, and Catherine Corney.
Also good to see lots of new faces in the mens section, winner Tom Brooks, Randall Tinsley back to the club, Leo Pearce, Chris Corney, Wayne Hodson (haven't seen him for a looong time), Brent Jones, (at last some more competition in the seriously depleted Senior mens ranks), Ash Richrads is back, Eric Phimister finally decided to run for his local club!, the welcome return of Bobby Lewis, Wayne Forman will have a good year and Gair McVie really enjoyed the hill!
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