2017 Perlorus Trust Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km, 5km and Kids 1km Petone Sun 10 Sep

Results 

This is the 30th anniversary for the half-marathon although race choices today include distances from the marathon through to 1km (for the kids) plus walk options. The full marathon distance has been offered for the first time this year. 

The various courses seem to be a mix of everything and the route taken for the long races is unlikely to be boring. In fact the variety including twists and turns and changing surfaces  probably disqualifies the races from being considered as "fast" although others may disagree, 

For 2017 the half marathon doubles as the Wellington Half Champs which attracted some of the regions faster runners. First home was Hiro Tanimoto in 69.31 (new race record) with Dougal Thorburn next in 71.50. Both runners have been previous winners.

In the inaugural full marathon a tired looking Anthony Jackson finished below 3 hours in 2.56.04 with a huge gap back to the second placegetter who arrived at the tape in 3.18.53. The experienced Englishman, Jackson has a best time of 2.29.46 for the marathon and has raced everything from 100m and beyond.  

The 10km had some drama though as some of the lead runners went the wrong way at a critical point because there was no marchall on the spot to direct. This meant that the two runners leading ended up running further and losing their No 1 and 2 spots respectively. Ken Howell the race director acknowledged the glitch and said the organisers would recognise this when awarding prizes.

So at the finish it was Mark Moore who ended up on the winner podium with Ben Winder close on his tail. The respective times posted by these two were 34.49 and 34.53 with it all being decided on the run in to the finish. 

I have to mention that well known Trentham United race walker Daniel Du Toit took off in the 10k walk faster than a rocket full of monkeys to finish in 53.32. Club mate and national age grade female walking champion Jacque Wilson was second in a time of 1.05.46.

I have posted some photos below but not everyone will be shown because I did not cover all races.

Anthony Jackson inaugural full marathon winner

The leading bunch just after the start, Dan Clendon, Dougal Thorburn (Dr Doogie) and 2017 race winner Hiro Tanimoto

The Bert and Ben show getting into gear at the start

Hiro Tanimoto the new Wellington Half Marathon champ and race record holder

Sean Lake takes an early lead in the half-marathon walk

Half Marathon Photos

10km Photos

2017 National Road Champs Christchurch Sat 2 Sep

Daniel Balchin - the photo says it all

Olivia Burne set the pace early 

ANZ Race Report
The Press Race Report
Individual Results

Start of Masters Women and U18 and U20 Women's race

Sally Gibbs

Start of Masters Men's Race

Dwight Grieve from Te Anau leading at the end of lap 1

Steve Rees-Jones heading for the tape

Leading Bunch of Under 18 Men 

And Then There Were Four  

Sam Tanner Waiting To Make His Move (Which Came on The Last Lap)

Andrew Catley Clears Out Early In The Under 20 Men's Race

Wellington Based Lachlan Haitana Wearing Blue Today

Ollie Chignall Current National Men's U20 XC Champ

Theo Quax 

Theo Quax Looking Happy 

Leading Senior Women in 10K Race

On the Back Stretch Where the Wind Was Worst

Aaron Pulford Leads a Big Bunch of Senior Men

2017 National Road Champs Christchurch Sat 2 Sep – Preview

Start List
ANZ Preview (30 Aug)
Christchurch Press Preview (1 Sep)

The start lists for this event have now been published and as one would expect numbers are low. 

Astonishingly ANZ have a goal of increasing entries for established championship events by a whopping 5% each year for the next five years or so. Talk about ambitious, but I digress.

I imagine that later this week ANZ will publish a preview (this has now been published see link above) of how they see the various races unfolding but now that entries have closed I thought I might give you my thoughts.

The Senior Women’s race has 19 starters – there were 12 entries in 2016 at Masterton.  

My bet is that ANZ will predict the race to be fought out by Laura Nagel who is the current Nat SW road champ and Ruby Muir the current Nat SW XC champ. 

We know that Ruby is race fit but I am not sure what Laura has been doing lately. Nagel didn’t line up for the Nat XC champs in Auckland even though she had entered. 

So the question is whether Ruby has the speed on the road to match the undoubted strength she has on the off-road. 

And when it comes to the XC in Auckland then Penny Peskett should to be mentioned, the bold masters grade Aucklander who was the only one to challenge Muir. And as onlookers will tell you she looked dangerously dangerous on the last couple of laps as she started to close on Muir. 

Three other names to chuck into the mix are Esther Keown, Olivia Burne and masters queen Sally Gibbs.  

In the Senior Men’s race 37 athletes will line up. There were 24 in 2016. 

The first thing to note is that neither the current Nat XC champ Craig Lautenslager nor Jono Jackson will be there. 

So it looks like Mr Reliable, Daniel Balchin the current Nat Road champ will be favoured to win again but then he will be up against Aaron Pulford (Waikato/Bay of Plenty) who ran a 65.35 half marathon on the Gold Coast in July  

So who else could challenge?  Maybe Caden Shields from Otago who also ran a 65.42 half marathon just behind Pulford in July or Oska Baynes (Canterbury) who ran 66 03 in the same race.   

Dark horses could be Nick Horspool and the road running specialists Wreford brothers from Timaru.  

The team’s race looks like a toss- up between Canterbury and Wellington. Could be interesting.

I note that former Scottish A team superstar Craig Kirkwood is also running but he may just be there to get in some road relay practice. Or maybe to cheer on the current Senior Boys Secondary Schools and National U18 XC champ Sam Tanner who he coaches.

2017 Wellington Road Champs Wainuiomata Sat 19 Aug

Results 

Lachlan Haitana winner of U20 Men's race

Scott Russell showed his road running strength by pulling away on the last lap to pick up the centre title for 2017.  And posting a time of 31.06 isn't too bad either.

Nick Horspool who led the charge of Scottish singlets for most of the race was 2nd while NZ Mountain Running representative Daniel Jones 3rd. 

My first thought was that today's win was Russell's revenge for the cross country champs at Grenada North where he came 2nd to Hospool.

My second mulling was that Scottish with 10 runners home in the first 12 are going to be hard to beat at the NZ Road Relay Champs. And I am not even sure if everybody was there.

My third deep thought was that Isaac Murphy (WHAC) is running particularly well at the moment having done well at the NZ cross country champs in Auckland a few weeks ago. And lo and behold Brian Garmonsway.(Trentham United) and Chris McIlroy (Scottish) are back.

And my final point is that Athletics Wellington need to see if it can find a better course than Wainuiomata. 
   

Is that a grimace or a smile on Nick Horspool's face?