2013 Vosseler Shield Mt Victoria Wellington Sat 18 May

The Vosseler Shield is in its 90th year and everybody who has run it will tell you how tough it is. The exhaustion on the faces at the end of each race says it all.  This year Hamish Carson won the race virtually unchallenged adding another title to his belt. If he was Sir Edmund Hilary he might have said "I knocked the bugger off".

 

 

 

 

 

 

The blue wave. Wellington Harriers dominate the Men's U18 grade with six of its members in the first seven finishers.

The real races have been in the kids grades. As with the Shaw Baton (and most likely with University Relays) there has been battle in the BU13 grade between Wellington Harriers (20 team points), Trentham United (22 team points) and Wellington Olympic (23 team points).  Further back was Hutt Valley Harriers (30) points. This could be the grade to watch for the rest of the XC season.

I doubt that I would run anybody so small over any part of the Vosseler.  In the kids race there is a mighty climb from the start line to the road which would seem like a mountain to a tike with short legs.


Individual Results
Team Results
Club Points
Photos

2013 University Relays, QEII Park Paekakariki Sat 11 May

Brent Ballantyne on his annual xc outing with the University Club. In his day Ballantyne was a local middle distance track star and for 20 years held the Junior record for the fastest 1500m time at Newtown Park until it was taken by Nick Willis.

Photos

2013 Shaw Baton Relays Battle Hill Pauatahanui Sat 27 Apr

The Shaw Baton relay race is the first inter-club event of the winter season centre and generally well supported. As cross country races go it has everything, flat bits, boggy bits, grass, gravel, wooden jumps, a water obstacle, uphill, downhill and great scenery.  The place to be is the water jump because this is where the minor mishaps are likely to occur and in front of the enthusiastic gallery ready to applaud those water crossings perfectly executed. Not all made it with dignity, but because the clock is ticking there is no time for team runners to reflect on what went wrong. As usual the Olympic Club were efficient with their organisation and with the speedy production of preliminary team results.
Photos

Rowan Hooper leading the way in the 6 Lap race

Some minor mishaps in no particular order

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Wellington Track & Field 10,000m Champs Newtown Park Sat 30 Mar

There were 18 pre-entries for the 10k champs but in the end only about half of those turned up. The winner of the men's race was Mark Searle running in Upper Hutt Athletic colours. The unofficial time for the 25 laps was around 35 minutes. Hinano Sefsi from Scottish ran a steady race to win the women's title. Well done to both.  Official results..

 

Also in the 10k field was the remarkable 83 year old Michael Browne a former junior Vosseler shield race winner. A true inspiration.

 

 

There were also a couple of other track and field events on the programme notably an 800m and 1500m designed to allow athletes to meet qualifying times for various future events. In the 800m Alex Jordan took the role of as pacemaker in a race that was eventually won by a fast-finishing

Hamish Carson the current national 1500m champion.  As usual Julie, Hamish's mum and biggest supporter was on hand to support and cheer him on.

 

 

Probably the most interesting race of the day was the B 800m which was only decided on the finish line. On lap 1 Julian Baker (WHAC) cleared out with what appeared to be an unassailable lead. In his wake Chris McIlroy and Luke O'Donnell (both Scottish) battled it out for 2nd and 3rd. On the last lap though McIlroy and O'Donnel closed the gap quickly and by the top of the finish straight were close enough to catch up to Baker and grasp 1st and 2nd.  This was a great race to watch and proves that it ain't all over till the fat lady sings. A terrific effort from all three.

 

 

Newtown Park regular Saravee Sos having it all his own way in the sprints. This guy gives nothing less than 100%

 

 

 

 

The last race on the programme was a 1500m designed to allow some our elite middle distance runners post qualifying times. I switched camera bodies from a Mark II to a Mark IV for the shots because of the low light. Needless to say the results were disappointing and the decent images that are worth posting are below and include race winner Calum Moodyfrom the New Brighton Olympic club.