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In conjunction with their past members day, Napier Harriers held the Louise Sweeney Memorial Shield relay, the oldest annual event on the club's calendar. Nine teams (including three from Hastings Harriers) contested the event over 20.7km, with the winning combination of Eric Phimister, Larissa Street, Chris McGirr and Jack Needes completing the distance in 1.20.37, 54 seconds clear of the leading Hastings selection.
Ryan Woolley (17.22) was the quickest over the 5km opening leg, followed closely by Shane Vincent and Brett Pulford. Eric Phimister (19.01) had his team in fifth position.
Ben Fulton kept the wolves at bay, remaining in front, although Annie Creagh (11.33) closed to within 15 seconds by running the fastest leg and promoting her team from fourth. Larissa Street kept her team in fifth but slipped to 2.35 behind the leader.
Sheila Smidt was quickly gobbled up by Mal Lochrie and Sarah Morton, while Canterbury University student Chris McGirr progressed his team to be 1.49 off the lead.
Circumstances changed dramatically over the 5.4km Poraite Hill leg, with Amber Morrison moving her team into the lead. Eric Phimister running a second time for his team, produced a powerful effort to close to within 35 seconds of Morrison. Frank Busch had a storming run to promote his team forward two places into third place, although 2.25 off the pace.
Jack Needes took less than a kilometre to overhaul Katie Harris and raced away to a comfortable 54 second victory. During the relay five different teams had held the lead at some stage. The eye-catching run on the anchor leg, came from 12 year old Charlie Chittenden who gained two places, to bring the early pacemaking combination up into third place.
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