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Wellington Waterfront 5k, Summer Series - Race 7, Queens Wharf, 9 December 2008

Well, no still conditions or southerlies but at least the evening’s weather was much better than that prevailing early this morning! We had six Lifetime PBs tonight from the 58 participants.

Walkers:  Philip Grimmett took overall line honours for tonight’s race and fastest male with a winning time of 30:45 (just 6 seconds away from my pre-race guestimate of a winning time). Second male was Tim Dutton who walked 30:52 and third place went to newcomer to series, Rupert Watson, who posted 33:04. Keeping the men honest, Terri Grimmett was fastest woman tonight with a good time of 30:50 – just a few metres behind husband Philip. Having had four races in the last 10 days, Terri’s achievement had even more merit. Second woman was Andrea Adams with a time of 37:02 and third went to Daphne Jones in 39:33.

Runners: After fronting up for a run in a great 5k field stacked full of Scottish members at Newtown Park last Saturday, Dave Parsons returned to the Wellington waterfront’s 5k course tonight and won overall – in a Lifetime PB time – posting 16:39. Another athlete who was backing up from success with a Lifetime PB and centre age record over 3k at Newtown Park on Saturday was Masters Men 55-59 participant Richard Brent - who ran second in 17:20. Todd Stevens made it a 1-2-3 as he also ran well in the 5k track race and backed up tonight for third in 17:25. Gabby O’Rourke fronted up tonight – looking to break the 18 minute mark - but sadly (or you could say she judged it to perfection) she won in exactly 18 minutes (despite a second opinion on the decimal placing for the official time keepers). Daylight was next but second place went to Seini O’Connor with 20:43 and third was Rebecca Speirs in 21:56.  

As yet another special treat for all participants tonight, Scottish member David Colquhoun (and also curator of manuscripts at the Alexander Turnbull Library) provided another copy of his great new Lovelock book "As if running on air" as a special spot prize. He had already offered another copy as a special prize a fortnight ago – that’s going to be a great Christmas read for Rebecca Stevenson – the lucky recipient. Books are available in all good bookstores – according to Dave! Thanks heaps!

Congrats also to all weekly spot prize voucher winners – Melinda Atkinson, Tim Dutton, Chris Martin, Geoff Iremonger, Rebecca Speirs, Alastair Gibbons and Jodee Webb.

Thanks again to tonight’s officials – Dan Powell, David Lonsdale, Belinda Buck, Jo Badham, Laura Roozendaal with help also from Seini O’Connor (when she was not racing).

Just two races left before Xmas now – with the last one on 23 December having a Xmas theme. Spot prizes will be selected by a guest selector for those who are judged most decorated in Chrissy theme dress – that leaves hats, glitter, perhaps lights (?) or just good ole mistletoe. Over to all – lets see your inspirational ideas kick in!  

Oh – and don’t forget to come along to Newtown Park on Saturday 20 December – Scottish Night of Miles twilight family fun night – and have a run in our special Spiral Race over all eight laps of the track. Also various miles and the usual 60m, 100m, 400m, 800m. More details on our home page – look for the pic of the man in the red suit and bushy white beard! Scottish Night of Miles

A REMINDER:

Next week again sees us sharing the organization of weekly Waterfront 5k races with Olympic Harriers – nothing will change for all participants with all aspects of the 5k races remaining the same – just different faces doing the officiating each fortnight from 18 November through to the end of February 2009. So, ongoing details are:

REGISTRATIONS FROM:          5:30pm onwards at The Chicago Sports Bar, Queen’s Wharf, Wellington

WALKERS/RUNNERS:              5:45pm for all walkers and if you feel you'll run around 26 minutes or more for the 5k race. It is preferred if you start at this time to help keep the race within a manageable time space – I suggest also that it makes for better racing for those runners joining the earlier start time.

RUNNERS' RACE:                     6:00pm for all runners – expecting to run 26 minutes or less

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