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Wellington Waterfront 5k, Summer Series - Race 9, Queens Wharf, 23 December 2008  

Well, it’s Christmas and we finally received favourable conditions – east-south-east light winds – almost unheard of, according to starter Dan. As a result we had nine Lifetime PBs tonight from the 56 participants as well as 18 season’s PBs.

Walkers:  Michael Walton decided upon race walking tonight and his winning time was just mere seconds away from his PB – posting 27:25. Second placed male was Tim Dutton who posted a season’s best time of 30:20 and third went to Michael Lane in his first waterfront 5k this season with his time being 30:24. Terri and Philip Grimmett were inseparable at the finish, looking splendid in their Xmas regalia, with Terri being the fastest woman tonight in 31:47. Second place went to Andrea Adams in a season’s best time of 35:46 and Carol Briesman took third place with 36:13.

Runners: An international flavour was added this evening as young Greg Miller (based in Canada) sneaked under the local radar and won tonight’s race in a very good time of 16:10. It was reported Greg actually ran an extra 10 metres at the turnaround after perhaps following the "thin blue line" to the end. In any case, it did not make a difference. Second home was Dave Parsons, running yet another Lifetime PB of 16:17 – Dave is in a fine vein of form at present! Repeating that effort and also running a big Lifetime PB was Axel Tie who posted 16:26 for third place. In a short space of time, Axel has reduced his 5k PB by nearly 40 seconds. Gabby O’Rourke fronted up again tonight – no doubt determined to break the 18-minute mark – which she did emphatically by posting a winning time of 17:52 for a season’s best time. Like Gabby, Natalie Smith and Lotty Turnidge also ran season’s best times to place second and third respectively. Their respective times were 18:13 and 18:16.

Congrats also to all those who entered into the Chrissy spirit and were rewarded with weekly spot prize voucher winners – Melinda Atkinson, Terri & Philip Grimmett, Carol Briesman, Andrea Adams, Brian Hayes, Gabby O’Rourke and Betty Harp. Thanks to Paul Rodway for accepting the arduous task of guest selector.

Thanks again to tonight’s officials – Dan Powell, Todd Stevens, Bob Stephens, Stephen Day & Paul Brydges – all Scottish stalwarts and regular supporters.

So that’s it for 2008 – thanks for supporting our series of races. We’ll be back racing on the Wellington Waterfront on Tuesday, 6 January 2009 – when Olympic Harriers will be your hosts. Until then, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year plus a safe and fun-filled festive season. 

More photos by Rowan Greig of last night's race are here. Above Terri and Philip Grimmett were inseparable last night crossing the finish line in 31:47.

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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