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Napier Harriers Club hosted the Provincial Road Championships on a new course at Westshore. Although the sun was shinning the race was run in difficult blustery conditions that battered runners as they competed.
First off was the Cubs grade doing a 1km run. No surprises with the Christison brothers coming in 1st and 2nd. Bradley was a slim 2 seconds in front of his brother Thomas followed by Fraser Pearson.
The Boys 12 years 2.4 km race was a real battle which proved a bit much for older brother Shamus Christison, who forced to stop and recover while leading, 100m from the finish suffering and out of breath. This allowed Callum Hobbs-Turner (9:20) from Hastings to take 1st place ,with Jack Smidt running particularly well, hot on his heal only 5 seconds behind. 3rd place was taken by an ever excelling Harry Crichton. The Girls 12 years race was easily won by Jasmine Ngan-Sue (10:13) with a very strong run. Ngan-Sue was 23 seconds ahead of Georgia Creagh in 2nd and a further 16 seconds ahead of Hastings Becca Porter.
Blitzing the field in a pleasing 3k run, boys 14 years was Toa Elhick-Iaveta (10:34) from Napier. Next was Hastings Angus Fuhrer and Napier's Campbell Busch. In the girls 14 years Napiers Annie Creagh was 1st in 11:55. Tia Brown from Gisborne kept Creagh honest to finish 11 seconds behind. Monica Burnard from Hastings battled her way to 3rd in 12:55.
Laura Nagel (18:44) of Napier didn't surprise anyone with first place for the Girls 16 years with another very strong run in the 5 km race. Greta Porter Hastings and Aroha Brown Gisborne very closely finished 2nd and 3rd. Rachel Speedy (20:06) from Hastings went uncontested to win the girls 19 years race. Hastings Jesse Williams (18:29) was first in his 5k race for the Mens 16 years race with Brendan Speakman 9 seconds behind followed by Duncan Morrison.
Andrea Williams had a stunning run coming 1st in the Masters women's 5km. Williams completed her race in 19:32. Cheryl Simpson of Napier ran hard for second with Margaret Morris following her to the finish.
The Mens 19 years 8km race was convincingly won by Eric Speakman in 27:02. Marno Wijnsma 30:03 was 2nd with Glenn Barwick 34:11 in third place.
The Masters Men had a grueling 10k race in the wind that was picking up as the afternoon progressed. If they were able to tuck in behind another runner the going was a bit easier. But as the field spread it became much harder. Cliff Fellingham was the first registered runner in and claimed the medal for first place in a time of 37:31. Phil Mckay was 18 seconds behind followed by Eric Phimister. The Senior Men ran well with Neville Smith making it look easy finishing in a mere 33:32. Napiers Craig Mathers was 2nd with James Bell close behind.
The Senior women's 10km race was easily taken out by Stephanie Everson (44:53) from Hastings Harriers. Napier's ever improving Gina Finlayson was second in 51:48, with a not so well Shayna Heywood coming 3rd after giving it her all, for the day. Kim Creagh
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