The season points story so far;
2 = Victoria University
1 = WHAC
0 = Scottish
Are you all sitting comftybold, two square on your botty?
Then I’ll
begin
Today
marked the grand unveiling of the region’s cross country elite where the fiery
competition sizzled with anticipation.
Or at least
some of them did.
The occasion
was the 100th running of the Vosseler Shield a brutal race where the
going gets tough and the tough get going.
As they say
Among the revered
ranks, Victoria University stood tall, reigning supreme with WHAC nipping at
its heels. The phoenix-like rise of Victoria, after years of toil, now bears
the sweetest fruit, undoubtedly bringing much joy and jubilation to the big
toes of Richard Owens and Roger Robinson.
In the realm of individual prowess, the spotlight shines brightly on Maia Flint of Victoria Uni and Nathan Tse of WHAC, the undisputed titans of the terrain, the king and queen of the mountain if you will. But amidst their dominance could a dark horse or five lurk, yet to unveil their ferocious stride?
But lo, the
Vosseler is a battleground of the boldest and the crazy, where the fields may be
smaller but the challenge larger than life. The adrenaline-fuelled clash over 5km allowed Maia Flint,
adorned in Victoria Uni colours, to seize
victory from the jaws of um, well victory really, closely stalked all the way
by Ollie Palmer of the Scottish clan as her steadfast companion, a tale I might add that is begging for
elucidation.
Meanwhile,
Nathan Tse commandeered the 10km spectacle with the finesse of a true champion,
etching his name in the annals of history as he claimed the Centennial title. Tom Strawbridge and Joel Carmen of the shire, you know who they are, dared to chase the whirlwind that was Nathan,
yet it was Ryan Woolley, a blast from the past, the ghost who walks, who
stormed into third place, leaving the crowd breathless with his audacious display.
And in the echo
of Woolley’s name, legends of the past, Dan Wallis and Stefan Smith, emerge
from the hallowed grounds of Napier, a nod to the golden era of yore. Oh what
days they were, where heroes were forged and legacies scratched in the soil of
glory.
Here endeth
the hyperbole and here begineth the photos.
Race 1 Photos: SW, MW,
MM, Non-Champ 20-59 5km
Photos: JM & JW U20 and U18, B&G U16 3km
Races 3 & 4: No
Photos from the kids races
Race 5 Photos: SM,
MM35-50, Non Champ W20+ 10km
The End
