Standout performer of the day: having entered a new age category of F60-69, Raewyn Harlock took the opportunity to claim the F60-69 record for the 14km to add to her still-standing F50-59 course records for the 7km, 14km and Half-Marathon over the same course – so she now holds 4 course records for this one event!
Other course records to tumble today came from David Riches, whose slick 28:05 set a new best time for M60-69 in the 7km race (and who also owns the M50-59 record for the 14km race, from 6 years ago); and Kerry Bray’s 48:10 establishing a new benchmark time for the F70 and Over, also in the 7km distance.
Samuel Morse led the 14km race from the outset and never looked back, to claim the win with an impressive 53:41, from the pair of Joseph Thomas with 54:13 and David Paterson in 54:20. Mike Turner was next home in 54:29, leading the field for the M50-59 (and 3rd outright). Ben Dall,äôamico took out the M70 and Over with 1:23:34 (surprisingly there were no entrants in the M60-69 in the 14km race today).
The women’s 14km event was won by Georgina Beech with 1:00:39, from Sarah Whitley’s 1:01:56 and Melanie Shields with 1:04:11. Josie Ryan was fastest among the F50-59 with 1:27:57; while Raewyn Harlock stood alone in the F60-69 as the only contestant, yet still ran faster than any from her age group have covered this course before.
Michael Abiwahab was strong and stylish in winning the men’s 7km one-lap race in 26:25, ahead of the fast-finishing pair of Chaturanga Jayalathge with 27:19 and Leon Goh in 27:21. Greg Chruchall took out the M50-59 in 26:48; David Riches won the M60-69 (and was 2nd fastest in the M50-59) with a record 28:05; and Peter Allen claimed the top award in the M70 and Over with 47:41.
Ruth Thomas was fastest today among the women 7km contestants, taking the top podium placing with 28:24, holding off Mel Selby’s 28:49 and Rochelle O’Connor with 29:16. Rosheen Boyle was the quickest in the F50-59 with 33:16; Joan Feeney stood first in the F60-69 with 35:42; and Kerry Bray claimed another course record for the F70 and Over with 48:10.
Isac Churchall was fastest finisher in the 4km race, winning the Boys Under 17 in 16:58, ahead of 1st Boy Under 13, Oliver Fyfe in 17:36, towing his father Angus Fyfe who was the only contestant today in the Male 17 and Over, with 17:38. Freya Ingwersen won the Girls Under 13 with 20:37; coming just after the 1st Female 17 and Over runner Laura Heaney, who took the main prize in her division with 20:24.
Our thanks to all helpers – especially to Albert Ho and to Penny and Stephen Redfern for their wholehearted and cheerful service throughout the morning.
Merry Christmas and a truly Happy New Year to all!