Loaded Hog 5k Spring Series, Race Six, 12 September 2006  

A great night for the race – northerlies died at 5:15pm to an almost still evening on the Wellington Waterfront. Certainly plenty of foot traffic and bikers to have to compete with as well! However, an excellent 117 participants were out tonight to enjoy the conditions. Many did just that with PBs aplenty and several breaking through their respective minute barriers to record best personal times.

In the run, it was a Scottish clean-up tonight with Dougal Thorburn first in 15:41; Grant McLean next in 16:14 closely followed by Angus Jennings (with a PB) in 16:16. Alice Wilson (also of Scottish) took the fastest time honours for the women with a PB of 17:54 – an excellent time which was supported by an appropriate spot prize win of The Loaded Hog Wine of the Week. It was great to have Gabby O’Rourke (Wellington Harriers) back to keep us on our toes. Three timekeepers recorded her time as 18 minutes even but we were assured by Gabby in was 17:59! The officials were unyielding, however. Suzanne Cookson took third with 18:42 – a nice come-back run!

In the race walk, Ian Morton took line honours with 30:59; next was Diane Isherwood in 31:45 (just missing a PB) with third going to Johnny Hines in 31:57. Well done, Johnny, for achieving that breakthrough and sparing the officials of any further pressure.

Some other notable achievements tonight with Tim Hawkes scoring a handy PB and breaking into the 16 minute range – well done Tim, you’re on fire! On a quick look, I can see about a dozen PBs or series record times for Sam Hughes (PB); John Atkinson (PB); Matyas James (PB); Tim Armstrong (Series PB); Matt Gleeson (PB); Brad Thompson (PB); Jeremy Ryan (PB); Nic Prendergast (Series PB); Alec Mladenovic (PB); Karen Gillespie (Series PB); Paul Rodway (Series PB by 1 second!); Lois Hart (PB); Anna Marshall (PB); Daryl Bloomfield (PB); Diane Morgan (PB); Neville Isherwood (PB). No doubt there are others – sorry if I missed you – check out the cumulative results page for other excellent performances.

Thanks to all the Scottish helpers tonight – great teamwork yet again from Dan, Kathryn, Karl, Api, Bruce, Noeline, Vaile and others.

A CHALLENGE has been issued and accepted:          

Following the race prize-giving, a review was held with sponsors The Loaded Hog. They are very happy with the support – in fact in a moment of rashness, Carl Smith (Operations Manager) accepted a challenge to be held on the evening of the last race in this series – Race 9 on 3 October 2006. The gist of it is this – The Loaded Hog will enter a 5 x 1k Relay team into that evening’s race and will spank a nominated Scottish runner who will run the full 5k race. I could not realistically delegate that responsibility and so the race is on: Sponsors vs Race Organiser. The value of purse to winner (not winners - sorry, Carl) is yet to be decided but I have been known to drink a few beer in a night. Now, has anybody seen my running shoes?  I must get some running training in over the next three weeks. BRING IT ON!

So just three nights left to get you minimum five races on the results sheet – and be in for The Loaded Hog Incentive prizes to be awarded on Week 9.

See you all next week.

Jim Kerr, Race Series Organiser

Cumulative results | Autumn series

Wellington Scottish Athletics Club, PO Box 6239, Te Aro, Wellington 

Clubhouse, Prince of Wales Park (map), Salisbury Terrace, Mt Cook