I had to check, but the last time I reported on the Tuesday night waterfront race was just under two years ago. How time flies.
The course is the same except for the dogleg around the outside of the Chaffers Wharf apartments. The course change was prompted by the never-ending work on Oriental Bay to insert a cycle lane. The change in course design does introduce a degree of interest and a few new places for picturing taking.
First home overall tonight was Thomas Strawbridge (Trentham United) taking out his 4th win for the season His time of 15.59 got him a fraction below the magic 16-minute mark but was not as good as his 15.18 achieved on 20 October when he held off Dan Jones. But so far this season Thomas has gone below 16 minutes in every race and won each one of them. If that isn’t proving a point about his current fitness then I don’t know what is.
After sticking together like glue for the whole race Matthew Maloney claimed 2nd place from a fast-improving Ryan Hunt with a 16.04 and 16.05 respectively - a big PB for Ryan.
The first female home was Esther George (WHAC) who smashed out a PB of 18.06 (With the right conditions is a sub-17 on the cards?) The other two women who produced times below 19 minutes and PB’s to boot were Wellington Harrier club mates, Sarah Riceman (2nd in 18.35) and Miranda Spencer (3rd in 18.52). Interestingly in the Wellington Road champs Miranda came in ahead of Sarah, so today’s result means the rivalry continues.
And the rivalry also continues for Max Poland and Josh Jordan, the two Trentham United club mates and school chums who while friends off the field show no mercy to each other when it comes to road and cross country racing. Today, Max thrashed Josh, but wait until Josh gets a bit taller then there will be blood on the ground.
And talking about Trentham United, spotted in the first 20 finishers was Fletcher Greaves a track and field champion in his younger school days.
So maybe I will be back next week if the weather is fine, and then again maybe I won't.
Photos below
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