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Those present at the Gisborne Showgrounds on Saturday were witness to a superb example of tactical cross country racing. Chris Corney, Napier Harrier Club's number 1 runner, is the new Provincial Cross Country Champion. Although Phil Costley was first across the line he is registered with the Papanui TocH club in Christchurch, and as such is ineligible for the Hawkes Bay/Gisborne title. Corney was well aware of Costley's registration and planned his race strategy accordingly. Letting Costley go early in the race and also allowing both Hastings' Josh Barber and Gisborne's Ron Robertson to run away over the first 4 laps, Corney made his move on the fifth lap picking up first Robertson and then a tiring Barber as they headed onto the sixth and final lap of the testing 12km course. Corney then ran home strongly to take the title by 24 seconds from Robertson with Barber having to settle for third.
The women's event was a far more straightforward event with Gisborne's Karen file leading from start to finish to be 38 seconds ahead of her Gisborne team-mate, Christine Carlton at the line. Hastings' Andre Williams was third a further 26 seconds adrift.
Gisborne's Peter Quax ran out the winner after an enthralling battle in the Vet men's race. A small bunch including Quax, Barrie Herbison of Hastings and Quax's team mate Bob Carter, were joined by Josh Barber and Ron Robertson from the Senior men's field and trailed each other around until the last of the their four laps. When the heat went on it was Quax who came out on top with Herbison just 13 seconds behind. Carter finished third to take the Men's 50+ age grade championship.
Annika Edmondson picked up the under 16 girls title winning by 20 seconds over her club-mate Sonya Clark with Amy-Kelly Horsfall of Gisborne filling third spot.
Hastings United's Neville Smith ran uncontested for the men's under 18 title.
Napier's under 14 boys team was spearheaded by Stefan Smith who ran a very strong race to take the age grade title with team mates Ian Clark and Andrew Prosser finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively to give the Napier club a clean sweep and the teams title.
Although missing an individual title in the under 12's, the team of Hogan Green, Andre Smith, Eric Speakman and Brendan Speakman, finishing 2, 3, 4 and 7 easily won their team title. Aleesha Heywood finished 2nd in her under 12 girls race.
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