Julian Baker, anchor for the winning WHAC A Senior Men's team
What a glorious day it was for the inaugural Moonshine Relay. A name that suggests either Hokonui Hills bootleg liquor or back-country running, and in this case, somehow both. Held at Trentham Memorial Park, it was the stand-in for the Needle Relay, which was itself the stand-in for the Bays Relay. At this rate, in a few years we’ll be running the “Relay of Relays” to celebrate how many substitutes we’ve gone through. Gosh, time flies.
The Park looked pristine—mostly green, with bonus trees thoughtfully placed in the “over there” sections. If you squinted, you could still see lingering evidence of the great Battle for the Dorne. Though to be fair, it could have just been the elusive Trentham Bigfoot
The course itself was mostly on sealed paths. I think. At least it looked like paths. They’ve been raced on before—school kids, local 5k-ers, and the occasional dog walker who refuses to yield despite a stampede of athletes thundering toward them.
Why Trentham Park Works So Well
· Being in the Hutt, the wind is only mildly feral, compared to the full-blown capital city gale.
· Great facilities. And Trentham United, without wanting to brag too much, are world-class at… well… organizing things. Clipboards, hi-viz vests, the lot. I mean Sarah Up a Tree was there.
As Tony Rogers wisely observed, it’s a top spot for spectators and athletes alike. Hard to argue with a man who has seen more running events than most people have had hot dinners.
The Races Themselves
Act One: The kids.
· A 3-lapper, a 4-lapper, and a “blink and you missed it” 900m scratch race for the rugrats. I think some of them finished before the starter’s gun had even cooled.
Act Two: The main event.
· A 4-person relay over 3.5km. Categories ranged from fresh-faced juniors to battle-hardened “old guard,” who have perfected the art of looking casual while secretly sprinting like their knees don’t hurt.
The WHAC Men’s A-team delivered a ruthless master class in field demolition. But credit where it’s due:
Trentham and WHAC’s juniors weren’t exactly slouches either.
The WHAC Women’s A Team also left the chasing teams in the dust and won with a huge 5.47 minute margin.
Meanwhile, the mighty Scottish senior men (yes, the “big” club, that is the "Rampant Lions") turned up with… well, not much. Possibly they got lost; maybe they’re saving themselves for the Santa Mile.
Indeed Joel Carman continues to be the lone ranger of the clubs men’s senior ranks. A hero, or possibly just bad at saying no
So once again in terms of participation it was left to the Scotties veterans, both mean and women, to fly the flag high and prove age is just a number—albeit a large one.
Club Highlights & Shenanigans
. Melissa Moon, former women’s World Mountain Running Champion was there
· And yeah the rumours were true;; Eric Speakman did drop himself down a team to give others a chance at glory
· Rees Buck made a bold fashion statement by squeezing into a singlet two sizes too small. Some call it dedication; others call it “cry for help spandex edition.” The photo evidence is there. But he is a good sort, so go easy on the jibes
· But wearing a different hat as race callers both Rees and Richard Willis were, as ever, slick professionals, blending sharp commentary with just the right amount of Taylor Swift to keep morale high.
· On the other hand, the microphone handover between Mr Buck and Mr Willis was a tad messy. Next year they’ll get it right—or at least blame somebody else
· Timing gurus Daryl and Peter GoPro’d literally everything. If a leaf fell in the park, they probably captured it in 4K.
And let’s not forget the Turkey Trot.walk. Ray Marten and Maryanne Palmer somehow guessed their finish times so accurately it felt less like luck and more like petty burglary. I have no photos of this event as I was using a fast shutter speed.
Conclusion
So that was Saturday: dusted, bagged, and filed under “success.” It seems highly likely we’ll be back next year, given the Needle Relay course is now a minefield of roadworks, kamikaze cyclists, and enough traffic cones to start a small plastic empire.
Bring on Moonshine Relay 2.0. Same park, more fun, and hopefully fewer wardrobe malfunctions
Photos the Little Kahuna Relays
Photos the Big Kahuna Relays
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