Wednesday, 08 September 2010
HUSBAND and wife duo Austin and Tracey Oliver scooped the trophies at the Whakatane Harrier club event on Saturday.
Austin took the Bigwood Memorial Trophy while Tracey landed the Cooper Trophy as both runners took line honors.
The Bigwood Memorial Trophy went to the first person across the line in the feature run of the day which started outside the Ohope Medical Centre before heading up Maraetotara Road, to the old dump site and then returned by the same route.
The run was 12.8 kilometres and based on a time handicap system.
Austin maintained a consistent pace to arrive back two minutes ahead of the next runner, Shona Steel. William Doney made his way through the small field of 10 to take out third place.
Quickest race time went to Doney in 49 minutes 14 seconds, with Dave Chambers taking 50.10 and Graeme Everett recorded 51.03. Steel put in a good effort to post 59.42.
The Cooper Trophy went to the winner of the 6.4km race which turned at the bottom of the Burma Road on an out and back course.
Tracey was comfortably clear of second- placed John Headford who put in a good effort.
Tom Bayliss managed to hold on for third across the line. Tracey also claimed fastest race time of 30.00, with Daniel Everett taking 32.54, Roz Wilson 33.37 and Hayley Jones ran in 35.08.
The juniors had the largest field of the day with 11 starters for the 2km distance. Regan Wilson held off Evelyn Barton by 10 seconds as he finished in 9.30 while Jonathon Everett managed 10.19. Although they finished behind the earlier runners Jessica Cleland and Kalanie Kara did well and completed the run.
This week will see a rescheduling of the Otarawairere Loop run, plus supporting distances, which was postponed from August 24.
Meanwhile the Toi’s Cahllenge is just two months away.
More than 660 people took part in the 2009 Toi’s Challenge.
The 18.5km race between Whakatane and Ohope was won by Galatea runner Sjors Corporaal. The Toi’s Challenge course is a roughly circular route starting and finishing at Rex Morpeth Park.
The route rises above the town overlooking Whakatane to Kohi Point and then falls to Otarawairere beach to Ohope before returning to Rex Morpeth Park.