The largest turnout for a Sri Chinmoy Dolls Point event in several years, saw 299 finishers under glowering skies which threatened rain but produced the merest sprinkle. Many agreed the conditions were near-ideal for running, a verdict confirmed by Captain Cook Bridge at one point wearing a lovely rainbow like a halo.
Gratitude to all volunteers who cheered runners, marshaled, ran drinks stations, timed finishers and flipped a never-ending mini-mountain of pancakes. Your selfless efforts complemented the mighty exertions of all runners – fast, less fast and least fast – combining for a wonderful morning of glowing, wholehearted achievement.
A few outstanding course records fell in today’s Half-Marathon:
* Britt Welander smashed an 11-year record, taking 10 minutes off the Female 50-59 best time with her phenomenal run of 1:36:46;
* Rob Ellis, likewise gave the Male 70 and Over record a serious overhaul, with his fine outing of 1:48:11.
The win of the day belonged to the blazing, amazing Christina McGrath, whose 1:24:09 earned her 3rd outright in the Half-Marathon, winning the women’s race by over 12 minutes. As Christina crossed the finish line, her nearest rival, 2nd placed Sara Stace, still had close to 3km to run. Sara finished in 1:36:18, ahead of 3rd Lyndsey Fitz-Gerald’s 1:37:33. In the F50-59s, Shannon Whiteley deserves a special mention for also bettering the previous course record with her 2nd place 1:41:53; while Pamela Blaikie took out the F60-69 with 2:18:29.
Up ahead, Josh Wooldridge ran his own race with only the lead bike for company, he he steadily increased his gap on the field to over 7 minutes, winning the men’s Half-Marathon in an fine 1:15:18. 2nd placed Luke Jeffrey returned 1:22:44, with Ryan McKernan’s 1:30:43 good for 3rd in the Male Under 50s. Nevertheless, the M50s placed 3rd and 4th among all the men, with Akira Suzuki’s scintillating 1:27:32 taking this category, just ahead of Adam Stroud with 1:27:42 and Jeremy Smith following in 1:30:51. The M60-69s also saw an impressive win from Scott Norrington in 1:34:52, ahead of Tetsundo Kato’s 1:46:43; also worth noting is the record field in the Male 70+ division, with 5 finishers in the Half-Marathon.
Perhaps a sign or two along the northern reach of the course were removed or turned around during the race, resulting in a portion of the 10km field veering right instead of left at a critical fork in the route, hence overshooting the turnaround point and running an additional 300 metres each way, thus slowing some of the times in this distance.
Matt Derrick was an impressive winner of the men’s 10km race, clocking 35:02 for the full loop, ahead of Eoghan O’Leary’s 36:57 and Felix Compagnon with 37:30. Dan Condon took out the M50-59s in 48:06; Grant Alexander Nicholls was best among the M60-69 in 50:06; while David Iverarch won the M70+ category with his 54:06.
The 10km women’s race was won by Olivia Ghisoni with her impressive 39:14, a full 5 minutes ahead of her chasers, 2nd placed Khadija Noujoum in 44:28 and Sarah Whitley with 46:56. Roisin Boyle took out the F50-59’s with her 50:09; while Doris Mitchell won the F60-69 in 1:05:28; and Mieke Masselos the F70+ with 57:49.
Nathan Breen showed a clean pair of heels to the 5km field as he breezed around the course in 20:53 to take the overall win and 1st place in the Male 17 and Over. Next home was the leading Girl Under 13, Emma Feldman in an impressive 24:08, just ahead of her dad Marcus in 24:13. Kyle Barden took out the Boys under 13s with his 25:04, just ahead of 2nd placed Girls Under 13, Emma Kennedy in 25:09, who also beat her dad Andrew’s 25:12; while Alice Burney was the quickest among the Female 17 and Over with 26:00.
