Weekly news 3 August 2026: Heather Walker, National XC Champ 

August marks the start of the 2-month road-running season. The Moonshine Relay on 15 August, the 5km Champs on 22 August, the 10km Champs on 12 September, the Half Marathon Champs on 20 September, and the NZ Road Relay on 3 October. 

Coming up this week

• Tuesday 6:15pm: Tuesday evening interval/speed session. This week’s workout will be 600m reps around 5k pace. Meet at Newtown Park.

• Friday 7:00am: Frictoria, meet at the top of Mt Victoria before jogging down together and finishing with a well-earned coffee. 

• FOCUS EVENT: Saturday 8:00am: Karori Park. This week’s session will be threshold-based and complement the Tuesday VO2 session. It will also have an eye on the upcoming road racing session. Join the session or come along for a jog or a walk, or join us at the cafe afterwards for chats. 

• Saturday 8:00am: Parkruns at Waitangi Park, Lower Hutt, Porirua, Ara Harakeke, Trentham, Kapiti, Ōtaki River and Greytown Woodside.

• Saturday 2:00pm: The walkers will meet in Eastbourne opposite the Muritai School for the Cole Land Cup. The format of the race will be an estimated time race — a Turkey Trot.

• Sunday long pack runs: Usually leave at 8:30am from outside Freyberg Pool and other locations around Wellington. All speeds welcome.

Results

Commonwealth Games

James Preston made it to the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games 800m, running 1:48.43 in his heat and then 1:48.84 in the semifinal.

NZ Cross Country Championship

• 4000m: Naomi Richardson was 14th WU16 in 15:52.2.

• 6000m: Heather Walker won the W55 race in 24:10.3 and led the Wellington W50+ team to victory. Richele McKenzie was 5th in the W50 race in 27:58.4, and Emily Solsberg was 8th W45 in 30:55.5. John Skinnon was 2nd M75 in 34:31.5.

• 8000m: Eric Speakman was 3rd M35 in 26:56.3. Guy Dryden was 6th M60 in 34:52.3 and Gerard Gordon was 3rd M55 in 35:06.1.

• 10000m: Riley Henley was 25th senior man in 34:31.6.

Results

Parkruns

Check out the Scottish results

Notices

Free personalised coaching for members

Wellington Scottish is fortunate to have a group of volunteer coaches who offer free, personalised coaching to members. This service is open to all, regardless of experience, pace, terrain, or goals. Each coach brings a different area of expertise, and we aim to match members with the coach best suited to their current needs.

Whether you are looking to add structure to your training, work towards a specific goal, or would like guidance while returning to running or starting out, we encourage you to get in touch. Please message me here or email ali.a-c@outlook.com, and we will help find the right fit.

As this is a volunteer service, the only cost involved is club membership — our coaches generously give their time, and we are very grateful for their contribution. There is no obligation to continue if it isn’t the right fit; simply let your coach or me know so the arrangement can be closed off properly. Coaching complements the club’s Tuesday and Saturday sessions and, where appropriate, Scottish races throughout the season.

Membership renewal

If you have a friend, family member, or colleague who you think might like to join Scottish, invite them to join our team.

Join or rejoin Scottish at this link

Coming up

15 August: Moonshine Relay, Trentham Memorial Park

Now in its second year, the Moonshine Relay sends four-person teams out along the Hutt River stopbank from Trentham Memorial Park, with each runner taking on the same 3.5km leg of sealed path. There’s a grade for everyone, from Under 20 right through to Open Masters 60+, and last year’s inaugural event drew over 350 runners and a great big Scottish turnout.

2026 Moonshine Relay details  

22 August: Wellington 5km Road Champs, Wainuiomata

This flat-ish, out-and-back 5km along Reservoir Road is tucked between a hill and the Wainuiomata River, nicely sheltered from the wind — and it’s a great chance to run a fast time with a big pack to pull you along. It’s the club championship distance for our junior and W50+/M60+ masters runners, with separate Women’s and Men’s 5km Champs races for everyone else. Come along to race, support, or just cheer the lion home. 

2026 details for 5km champs

12 September: Wellington 10km Road Champs

The last of the big interclub races for the season, held on a fast, sheltered out-and-back course at Wainuiomata Recreation Area. Free for Scottish members. This race also doubles as the primary selection race for seniors and masters 35 grades heading to the Road Relays.

2026 details for 10km champs

20 September: Hutt Marathon Events, including Athletics Wellington Half Marathon Champs

The Hutt Half Marathon is one of the Hutt Valley’s premier running and walking events, offering a flat and scenic out-and-back course. Penty of events to choose from – including a Cool Kids Kilometre, a 5km fun run, 10km run and walk, and the Half Marathon run and walk – so there’s something for everyone

Event details and entry

3 October: NZ Road Relay, Halcombe (Manawatū)

The biggest weekend on the Scottish calendar — 100+ members away together for a full day of relay racing, a club dinner, and plenty of team spirit. Registrations close 15 September, payment due 24 September.

Details and registration

14 November: Te Ahumairangi 10000, Newtown Park

NZ’s biggest 10,000m track event — a fun, high-energy evening of pack running, prizes across multiple categories, and a great chance to chase a PB or try the track for the first time.

Last year’s details

Keep in touch:

• If there is anything you would like added to the Scottish Newsletter, or if your results have been missed, please email us.

• If you want to contact anyone about anything, your first port of call is our club captains, Meg and Joel and our club president, Simon.

• Instagram

• Website

Notes about results and upcoming events

• If you want your event added to this newsletter, contact us by Sunday evening.

• We’ll publish an event or a result, and what makes it special, if we’re told about it. So let us know what you, your friends, family members and teammates are up to. It is especially important for coaches to let us know when your athletes are attempting and achieving their goals.

• If you do not want your name published in the newsletter or on the website, please let us know so we can omit you from the results.

Supporters

Lifestyle Sports

Lifestyle Sports is a long-term supporter of Wellington Scottish, providing us with sponsorship in various forms and offering our members a 10% discount. Their store is located in Outlet City in Tawa, near the exit from SH1. They sell discounted running shoes for adults and kids, along with other running gear, and will take special orders — all with our 10% discount applied. If you shop at Lifestyle, please mention that you are a Wellington Scottish member. Let them know that we’re good customers!

Lifestyle Sports on Facebook

Rehab Co.

Wellington Scottish has partnered with the physical therapy practice Rehab Co. to help keep our runners on the roads and trails doing what we love. More information about this partnership, including how to book appointments, is on our Scottish website.

Rehab Co.

Tailwind Nutrition and ZeroTwenty2

Scottish members get 15% off at Tailwind Nutrition and ZeroTwenty2 with code ‘fhayvice15’. Tailwind fuels your training and racing; ZeroTwenty2 gears you up for outdoor adventures. Big thanks to Wellington-based Mark and Fibi — loyal supporters of Kiwi athletes and events!

Tailwind