Scottish Three Peaks, Event Three: "The Beast," 29 July 2001

Despite the bold prediction that the final Three Peaker would be dry (it can't happen three times in a row, we reasoned), again it drizzled, and blew, this time a northerly. (It may be no consolation, but we seemed to have landed in the best part of the day. The late afternoon and evening was a rainy shocker.)

This event in the series covered the most territory (hence the nickname, "The Beast") and attracted 48 participants. The run visited, not necessarily in this order, Mt Crawford in Miramar, Tinakori Hill and Hawkins Hill (several kilometres out beyond Polhill -- Sorry, Glenn, you can't say you did three peaks by including Polhill in your tally this time). 

In a repeat of last time, Greg Thurlow was the first back after visiting all three peaks in 2:57, just two minutes ahead of Jonathon Wyatt.

Winner of one of the spot prizes, a voucher for goods from Featherston Pharmacy, was Adrian Shields. Our thanks also to Featherston Pharmacy for supplying the recovery drink. The other prize, a membership at Les Mills, went to Bob Stephens. 

Thanks to organiser Angus Napier, who also worked out the results, to Keren Amos who refuelled the participants back in the kitchen, and to our three hill monitors, Harry Doig (Hawkins), Charles Broad (Tinakori) and Karl Woodhead (Mt Crawford).

The 2001 Nine Peakers are a hardy bunch of nine who braved everything the Wellington winter could throw at them. They are: Greg Thurlow, Richard Jennings, Richard Sweetman, Kerryn Flatt, David Jerram, Herb and Marguerite Christophers, Dave Colquhoun, and Hank Leech. A fairly exclusive club. Also memorable this year was the email that Harry Doig received from an Ethiopian teenager who wondered if he could be sponsored to come to New Zealand and run in the race!

This is probably as far as we can go with what is essentially a Sunday long pack run entwined with an orienteering element.

Note from a grateful runner at the end of the series: To Harry Doig, Angus Napier, Keren Amos, Bruce Jenkins, Colin Maclachlan, Dan Powell, Peter Maunder, Bob Gardner, Charles Broad, Karl Woodhead, Api Williams, Ken Howell, Brian Cattermole, and John Turner (and to anyone else I may have overlooked), from a grateful runner. "If possible, could you pass on a massive thanks to the organisers of all three triple peaks races. I would especially like to thank the volunteers who sat out on top of the nine peaks in the most miserable weather. Thank goodness I was running and able to keep warm! The lollies and water on top of Hawkins were much appreciated as were the scones and hot tea at the end of each event. Thanks for a great winter series, Richard Jennings."