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Anne-Marie Earwicker in action
photo Tim Creagh |
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Eric Speakman shows the way
photo Tim Creagh |
Napier Harriers welcomed the fine weather on Saturday by conducting the Green Shield Relay. The recent horrific weather forced a relocation from the usual Dolbel Estate circuit onto the drier terrain along the Tutaekuri Riverflats between the Waiohiki and Expressway bridges. The most pleasing aspect was the large turnout which saw 10 four person teams contesting the shield, which this year was generously sponsored by the Noel Leaming Group.
The winning combination of the treasured Green Shield was Mark Speakman, Kim Creagh, Annie Creagh and Jack Smidt, pipping the team of Eric Speakman, Marion Sherburn, Laura Smith and Sophie Rose.
The pattern of the race was established on the first 3.36km lap when the top three selections jumped out to a handy advantage and the other combinations found it difficult to penetrate the shape of the race. With an impressive run Eric Speakman (10.49) reached the first changeover 18 seconds clear of Cameron Poole-Smith while Mark Speakman was another 41 seconds adrift.
By producing the fastest lap over the shorter 1.7km loop, Sam Hall created a handy 84 second break on Marion Sherburn, while the eventual victors were 95 seconds behind the leader at the half way stage.
The whole race perspective changed over the next 3.36km leg with Laura Smith (14.16) and Annie Creagh (14.06) running shoulder to shoulder to remorselessly run down the leader, Vanessa Ngan, with still a kilometre to complete the lap. Smith tagged only two metres ahead of Creagh, while Ngan was another 65 seconds away. Chris Wong (13.50) actually topped everyone for the quickest third lap.
Jack Smidt (6.43) quickly skipped clear over the final short loop to carry his team to a 26 second victory, while Kris Sweetapple (6.28) promoted his team a place to cross in third place. The prize for the fastest final lap was secured by Toa Eplick-Iaveta (6.05).
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