A total of 109 competitors took part in the various Mount Vernon races.

Heavy rain may have restricted the number of competitors in both the Fun Run/Walk and Kids Challenge but a record number of 68 hearty souls took on the ultimate challenge of the 18km Grand Traverse main event. Near freezing conditions and low visibility at the top didn’t deter Jeremy McKenzie who won his third successive title in a time of 1hour 14min 29sec. Simon Leaning of Nelson was second and local runner Brett Forgesson third.

Annabelle Latz won the women’s title in a time of 1hour 34min 42sec. with sisters Meg and Hannah Maher finishing second and third respectively. The latter a former winner. The youngest competitor in the Grand Traverse, 10 year old Fergus Greer finished 48th overall in a time of 1hour 59min 59sec.

In the 11km Fun Run/Walk Daniel Vining from Picton took overall line honours in a time of 50min 45sec. to set a new course record. Daniel a former Marlborough Age Group Badminton representative took 57 seconds off the previous best men’s time set by Kelvin Read back in 2005. Steve Harvey finished runner up followed by Ryan Lock.

Rachel Quigley was the first woman home in a time of 1hour 8min 34sec. followed by Stella Blake and Margaret Hazelwood.

Five children took part in the Kids Challenge over a 2km course. Anna Barnes was first across the line in a time of 11min 10sec. followed by Bailey McKay and Finn McKenzie.

Full Results , David’s Photos and Emily’s Photos

Just under four thousand seven hundred competitors started the Christchurch Airport Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k. At the elite level the half-marathon had been billed as too close to call and the spectators were not disappointed as Hamish Carson of Wellington just edged out national 3000m champion Hugo Beamish, the first four senior men all finishing within ten seconds. Fourty-nine year old Sally Gibbs showed that age is no barrier for her as she was the first women home in 1:17:02 breaking Bernie Portenski’s 13 year age grade course record. Favourites Phil Costley and Liza Hunter-Galven won their respective marathon events.

An improved course and mild temperatures made for ideal running conditions and a large Marlborough contingent didn’t disappoint competing strongly in all running and walking events.

Margaret Hazelwood delivered a standout performance as she broke her own W60-69 course record by 32 minutes clocking a very impressive marathon time of 3hours and 38 minutes. Robbie Barnes, Jess Barnes and Judith Hyndman also took age grade placings.

Marathon
3:38:39 Margaret Hazelwood (1st W60-69, W60-69 Course Record)

Half Marathon Run
1:19:24 Robbie Barnes (2nd VM50-59)
1:23:12 Andrew Curnow
1:33:57 Tom Burgess
1:37:41 Alister Leach
1:43:23 Jess Barnes (3rd W12-19)
1:52:27 Ian Partner
1:52:33 Jan Curnow
1:53:02 Emily Burgess
1:53:05 Steve Olsen

Half Marathon Walk
2:34:18 Judith Hyndman (3rd W40+)
3:05:40 Kay Leach

10k Run
0:41:58 Ray Boardman
0:53:22 Stuart Curnow
0:55:29 Mieke Holtrop
0:59:05 Geoffrey Handley
1:01:14 Paulette Handley

10k Walk
1:21:10 Leanne Barnes
1:36:12 Julie Hunter
1:36:13 Bill Hunter

3k Marafun
00:15:00 Anna Barnes

Full Results and Photo Search (www.marathon-photos.com)

A total of 25 club members lined up in the Brooklyn Shield interclub competition at Taylor Dam on Saturday. Joining them were visiting Waimea athletes Craig Harford, Fran Kerse, Maren Harford and Heather Eades. Unfortunately Nelson had nobody take up the challenge.

Of the 12 grades contested Marlborough won nine and Waimea won three. The Mens 16, Mens 19 and Womens 19 and under grades were uncontested due to no entries from either of the clubs.

The Brooklyn Shield is awarded to the club with the best overall result. The first four runners per club in each grade count towards overall points except in the Senior Mens grade when the first six runners count.

Marlborough retained the Brooklyn Shield for the 11th consecutive year. In addition they also kept the Brooklyn Trophy awarded for Senior Mens team competition and won the Charlie Sturrock Cup awarded for Boys 12 and under teams competition. This was not contested last season.

The Don Pederson Cup awarded for Senior Womens team competition was deservedly won by Waimea. In what was a closely fought race Waimea’s Fran Kerse took line honours from local runner Kiri Johnson. Fran’s Waimea team-mate Maren Harford finished third and this was enough to secure the silverware last won by the visitors in 2008.

Brooklyn Shield (overall) points tallies were as follows:

Marlborough 1st - 146 points
Waimea 2nd - 242 points
Nelson 3rd - 261 point

Brooklyn Trophy (Senior Men) points tallies were as follows:
Marlborough 1st - 21 points
Waimea and Nelson 2nd= 63 points

Don Pederson Cup (Senior Women) points tallies were as follows:
Waimea 1st - 13 points
Marlborough 2nd – 17 points
Nelson 3rd – 22 points

Charlie Sturrock Cup (Boys 12 and under) points tallies were as follows:
Marlborough 1st - 10 points
Waimea and Nelson 2nd= 14 points

Full Results  Tom’s Photos  David’s Photos