100 Years of Dorne Glory: Sunshine,
Creekside Drama & Kamikaze Max
Today marked the centennial
running of the Dorne Cup, and what better way to celebrate 100 years of
cross-country chaos than with a little sunshine, a splash of creek, and a few
heroic faceplants (unofficial stat). Local running historian and endurance
typist Mark Growcott of Hutt Valley Harriers has delivered a mighty
tome of Dorne lore — packed tighter than a porta-loo queue with stats,
sepia-toned snapshots, and a parade of names that will warm the cockles of any
veteran runner’s heart. Frankly, the man deserves a medal… or at least a pair
of dry shoes.
The weather forecast? Utter
nonsense. Predicted: arctic gales, icy
downpours, and general meteorological misery. Reality: balmy sunshine, soft
breezes, and a creek that looked more like a reflective puddle than a raging
torrent. The course? Positively Instagrammable. If Dorne Cup courses were hotel
rooms, this one was the penthouse suite.
Race
1: Women, Masters, and Paul Hewitson
The afternoon kicked off with the Senior
and Masters Women, plus honorary "Master of Mayhem" Paul Hewitson
himself. Kumiko Otani (WHAC) wasted no time in establishing a commanding
lead — the kind of front-running that makes coaches weep with joy. She breezed
to victory with over 90 seconds to spare, leaving Madeline Watson
(Scottish) and Debbie Lynch (Olympic) in her wake, probably wondering
what jetpack she was using. Meanwhile, Paul Hewitson reminded everyone
why his name keeps popping up in race reports — first master’s man home, yet
again.
Mel Brandon (Scottish) scooped up the W35 title, while Sally Gibbs
(a national running icon and quite possibly immortal) took out the W60
grade in style.
Race
2: Youthful Speed and Maximum Drama
Enter the U20 and U18 battalions,
with 4km of fire in their legs and nothing to lose. Joe Martin (Scottish)
took the win for the U20 males, while Ava Sutherland (Olympic)
stormed home for the U20 females. Meanwhile, Connor Kemp and the
daredevil known only as "Kamikaze Max" Doherty had a spirited
scuffle for second and third — it was less a race, more a high-stakes game of
chicken. Consult the results for the winner; it was too close to call from the
sideline snack tent.
In the U18 division, Alex
McBeth (Olympic) and Paige Dobson (Napier) were your champs —
showing speed and poise that would make even the Senior Men nervous.
Most of the mishaps at the creek unfolded in this grade
Junior
Races: The Williams Brothers Begin Their Reign
The lower age grades brought
a heartwarming dose of mini-marathon magic. The tiny titan Cooper Williams
(HVH) nabbed victory in the U12 Boys, while younger brother Luke
followed suit in the U10s. The dynasty has begun. Remember those names —
in 10 years, they'll be storming the Senior race like it’s the Battle of Helm’s
Deep.
Main
Event: Senior Men and Apprentice Oldies Throw Down
And then… the main 8km event.
The big show. A swirling mass of spikes, spit, and ambition. A stacked field lined
up, including a platoon of “Palmy Army” marauders, hoping to loot and
plunder the team prize. But Vic Uni had clearly been hitting the secret
training vault.
Lap one saw a mighty creekside
convergence: Seamus Kane (Scottish) (long time no see!), Liam Chesney
(WHAC), Eric Speakman (Vic Uni), Harry Dixon (Palmy Army),
and a few other brave souls. But by lap two’s creek crossing, it was clear who
had the legs and lungs to finish fast: Eric, Harry, Liam,
and Max Taylor (Vic Uni) stormed through in that order.
Vic Uni’s strength surprised me, given their slightly quieter
showing at the Vosseler Shield. Perhaps they’ve been sandbagging. Meanwhile, Seamus
Kane faded to 7th, and in the team race, it was Palmy Army, Vic
Uni, WHAC, then Scottish — a tight contest, and no doubt the
subject of post-race pub debates.
In conclusion: The 100th Dorne Cup had it all — vintage vibes, breakout
stars, textbook pacing, and a weather forecast that couldn’t have been more wrong.
Here’s to the next hundred years of muddy shoes and mid-race existential
crises.
