"Marett Madness"

The 2007 edition of the "Marett Madness Relay" proved to be aptly named as confusion reigned, and everybody got wet - literally. But it wasn't the weather that dampened the competitors, rather the river crossing at the end of each lap! The usual mayhem ensued as team selection took place on the Guppy Road riverbanks but eventually 12 teams of three emerged. In a move aimed at creating more excitement in the racing, club vice captain Eric Speakman insisted on a change in the running order and it was the slower runners that fronted the line to take the starters gun. The early pace was set by the club's Taupo import Arthur Corbett, who showed good skills in clearing the first fence while many of the opposition elected to go through the gate. But it was quickly evident that he was going to have to work very hard to stay ahead of the younger legs around him and the race was very definately on as the runners disappeared from view up the stop bank. The usual moans of "rigged" and "burglars" ensued around the changeover area as the runners came back into view on the other side of the river, but the battle was fierce as Sophie Brennan, Jill O'Meagher, and Georgia Creagh (who was running a half leg (no crutches) with Annika Brennan), chased each other up the riverbank with big Mal Lochrie in hot (police?) pursuit. The placings were sorted out by the river as Jill and Georgia took an unexpected swim while Sophie managed the cold water best and came out with the lead and handed over to Ryan Woolley with a one second advantage. Georgia made the next tag to Brendan Speakman and it was all on for young (Brendan) and old (Mark) as Jill tagged Mark Speakman three seconds later. 13 seconds further back big Mal tagged, and Craig Mathers was off in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, out on leg two Ryan Woolley was showing no respect and quickly put time on the chasing pack, but running into the wind young Brendan Speakman was either struggling or playing coy and waiting for his 'old man' to come passed and provide some shelter. Despite trying optimistically to shelter behind Brendan, Mark eventually conceded it was pointless and "surged" passed only to hear Brendan's footsteps immediately move in behind and stay there - who taught him that trick?!. But despite the desperate father/son battle further things were afoot and approaching the duelling pair at a great rate of notts. As the Waiohiki Bridge loomed large the blurred form of Stefan Smith shot passed both the bewildered Speakman's (or is that Speakmen? or Speakman and Speakboy??) and rapidly disappeared off into the distance, setting the fastest lap in the process. As the runners once again came into view of the changeover area, there were more echoes of the previous protests, particularly as Ryan handed over to Natasha Town-Warner with a lead of 55 seconds. Stefan handed on to Karl Iaveta while Mark's team was a futher 1 min 18 back(!) with young Jess Middleton eager to enter the battle. 3minutes and 14 seconds after Ryan tagged Natasha, Craig Mathers, now in fifth place, tagged Laura Nagel and she took off like a cut cat, spraying shingle over all and sundry. Much discussion followed as the runners once again disappeared from view, but by the time they reappeared on the other side of the river it was Karl leading, but by a margin that was rapidly diminishing as Laura could now sense victory was within her grasp. She glided passed Karl and headed for the only thing that could keep the coveted trophy from her - the dreaded river crossing. Sensing this might the one place where is his additional size might be an advantage, Karl re-doubled his efforts putting in a mighty last chance surge and plowed into the shallow but swiftly flowing current ... and came quickly to halt. Glancing up he saw to his dismay that Laura was already exiting the water and heading to a well deserved victory. Jess Middleton, meanwhile had taken time out of Karl but eventually ran out of course and finished 53 seconds adrift in third place. And so it was that Mal Lochrie, Craig Mathers and Laura Nagel proudly lifted aloft the steering wheel from Dave Maretts old Falcon wagon. Ieaun Edmonds, Stefan Smith and Karl Iaveta were left wondering what if? ...and Mark Speakman had one more week where he could still beat one of his sons!

photos courtesy of Jim Tobin

Team	Athlete	Lap	Athlete	Lap	ET	Athlete	Lap	Total
1	Mal Lochrie	21:33	Craig Mathers	17:11	38:44	Laura Nagel	18:11	0:56:55
2	Ieaun Edmonds	22:21	Stefan Smith	14:04	36:25	Karl Iaveta	20:58	0:57:23
3	Jill O'Meagher	21:20	Mark Speakman	16:23	37:43	Jess Middleton	20:33	0:58:16
4	Annika/Georgia Creagh	21:17	Brendan Speakman	16:42	37:59	Ben Fulton	20:41	0:58:40
5	Sophie Brennan	21:16	Ryan Woolley	14:14	35:30	Natasha Town Warner	24:03	0:59:33
6	Diane Barclay	24:04	Toa Elphick	17:24	41:28	Chris Wong	18:58	1:00:26
7	Jodie Nagel/Kristen Witkowski	23:36	Eric Speakman	15:18	38:54	Laura Smith	21:58	1:00:52
8	Elly Lamonte/Haydn Foster	24:20	Mark Lane	17:07	41:27	Holly Edmonds	19:56	1:01:23
9	Danielle Eagle	25:04	Cam Poole-Smith	15:49	40:53	Cheryl Simpson	21:01	1:01:54
10	Kim Creagh	23:44	Mike Lintott	20:16	44:00	Danielle Keily	18:44	1:02:44
11	Arthur Corbett	23:08	John Craven	18:17	41:25	Patrick McGirr	21:49	1:03:14
12	Phillipa Lintott	26:37	Steve Lindsay	19:44	46:21	Annie Creagh	22:05	1:08:26

Previous Years Results Here:- 2000

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2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009