Loaded Hog 5k Spring Series, Race Eight, 26 September 2006  

With a lull between the blustery northerlies, intermittent showers and the beckoning southerlies, 97 participants enjoyed the light southerly gusts to blow them home to fast times in The Loaded Hog 5k races this evening.

I believe we had a first tonight, the fastest Wellingtonian – indeed the fastest NZ resident ever, in a Wellington waterfront 5k event perhaps! Young Scottish junior athlete, Terefe Ejigu, only just missed averaging under 3 minute kilometres this evening in taking out the open race in a time of 15:01. Great running, Terefe!  Just 5 seconds back were fellow clubmates Glenn Hughes and Daniel Wallis (affiliated to Napier club but an associate member with Scottish) with just another two seconds back to a band of Scottish runners headed by Rees Buck, then followed by Dougal Thorburn, Martin van Barneveld, Scott Ferguson and young Grant McLean – all recording sub-16-minute times. This augurs well for Wellington Scottish Men’s and Junior Men’s challenges to win back the prestigious NZ National Road Relay Team titles on 7 October in Feilding. Go well lads!

Fastest woman on the course tonight was Gabby O’Rourke (Wellington Harriers), running at time of 17:29.51 seconds but sadly seeing the time rounded up to the nearest second by the chief time judge. Guess you now know how those world class 100m runners feel, Gabby, when their time was rounded up to 9.77. C'est la vie.  Next home was Natalie Smith of Scottish with a good time of 19:05.  

Race walkers were headed home by Ian Morton, recording 30:48 and followed by the ever-improving Simon Reynolds of Scottish (a convert from running in his first year of race walking) with 31:38. Next home was fastest woman, Diane Isherwood, with a time of 31:53 with second woman home going to Leeane Palmer in 33:09 (which was also a huge 5k PB – well done Leeane!).

Three other milestones were noted. First, young George Henderson (aged 13, I think) broke through the magical 20-minute barrier for a life-time PB of 19:57. Well done George. Great to see the running talent has been past down from Dad (Stu) and Mum (Susan, walking tonight) . 

Second, still young (but, a little more mature) Neville Isherwood celebrated his mumble-mumble birthday today – sorry, I couldn’t pull out the weekly six-pack spot prize for you, Nev !

Finally, great to see the M-co athletes doing really well this evening – flying the flag for their very supportive employers who are sponsoring them for The Loaded Hog series of races. With five participants entering tonight, Tracy Wilkinson, Alec Mladenovic, Bruce Millard and Matt Gleeson all ran Series PB’s and first-timer James Goodchild picked up the Lifestyle Sports – 53 Willis Street prize of the week – a $50 discount voucher off his next purchase.

Thanks to the Scottish helpers tonight, Dan and Kathryn, Todd and especially great to see Kristeene Parkes helping with recording.

Don’t miss next week’s event. Not only will we have the added Special $100 Loaded Hog Participation and Improvement Prizes up for grabs (as well as the usual spot prizes), they are also providing some complimentary finger food to nibble on with your complimentary beverage – by way of saying “Thank you for your support.”  BUT there’s more - we also have the 5k Challenge – The Organiser (aka Big Bad Wolf Jim) vs The Loaded Hog Relay Team (aka The 3 Little Piggies) with a Head-to-Head race over the course. This is to be a regular event on the last night of each series and a trophy will be up for grabs – who will be victorious?

Come along next Tuesday, 3 October 2006, to have a run, watch and enjoy the fun – write it in your diary now.

NOTE:  After next week’s race, our race start times will be all put back half an hour (coinciding with more light and daylight saving commencement). Next week – same time, same place, though.

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