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20th North Island Cross Country Championships, Spa Park, Taupo, 30 June 2007

It's always fine in Taupo and the All Blacks always beat the Wallabies! Yeah right. Yes, for the first time in living memory, it rained in most of the Taupo races and the fabled pumice soils and mosses of Spa Park failed to drain away the water.  39 members finished their races, about a dozen supported from the sidelines and there were three podium places: Second and third in the senior men to Terefe Ejigu and Rees Buck, and third in the women 45 and over to Jenny McDonald.  

Just to the side of the podium were three fourths: Nicole Mitchell (W16), Anne Hare (W3544), and Jim Jones (M3549). Florence Reynolds topped the afternoon off by winning the spot prize of a one night's stay at the Chateau.

Overall, the club placed 6th in the team competition and contributed to the Athletics Wellington's first place in the centre competition.  Hosts Taupo Harriers said 756 entries (from 43 clubs) was a record. Don't take the Ave min/k too seriously: this is a hilly course with overall a 63m rise (and fall) around the 3k loop.

Full results now final, on Taupo Harriers site) | North Islands 2006

Some quick shots of the North Island Cross Country Championships (before the camera seized up in the rain!): Clockwise from the top left: Jenny McDonald on her way to a third in the W45+ race; Supporter Andrena Patterson greets a sodden Brenda Burke at the finish; men's race after lap 1 - Rees Buck in the lead from the eventual winner Sam Dobson, followed by Terefe Ejigu; Triumph at the end of the masters women's race - Loretta Desourdy, Caroline West, Della Laird and Brenda Burke.