Eric Speakman (Vic Uni}, totally dominated the 8km main event, clearing out from the gun< By lap 2 he had opened up a huge gap and for the rest of the race nobody came within a bulls-roar of him
While I haven’t seen the numbers I also suspect he headed the Vic Uni contingent to another resounding team win.
The only potential challenger to Speaky on the day would have been Nathan Tse (WHAC) who my informants tell me has been nursing an injury all week possibly arising from his recent WUU2K trail run race.
But today Nathan came home in 5th place even though he reportedly tumbled over twice to achieve that. But this also means no XC trifecta for him this year to follow up his wins at the Vosseler and the Dorne
Isaac
Murphy (ex WHAC) but running in Palmy Army colours was second with Nelsonian
Joshua Fitzgerald (Vic Uni) grabbing the third sport.
As expected Maia Flint (Vic Uni) won the women’s grade which confirms her dominance this season over her competitors.
The experienced Andrea Peat (WHAC) picked up the silver while Debbie Lynch (Olympic) came home in third place.
I’m pretty sure that Vic
Uni would have picked up the team race in the Open Women's grade as well.
Other titles went to Lorcan Rabbitte (Vic Uni) who won the MU20 crown while the reliable and consistent Hiro Tanimato (Scottish) was fastest in the M35 race with Ryan Woolley (Scottish) notching a modest distant second proving that he is going to be a handy return to the club.
I need to make special mention of Tim Hodge (Scottish) who could hopefully be making a comeback. He came in 7th in the M35 grade. How time flies from the time when he was one of NZ's best junior athletes.
I might mention the conditions at Harcourt now. A surprisingly bright sunny day (too much shadow for my liking for a camera with a wide dynamic range).
The ground was damp after the recent rain and would have been gnarly in parts, although the track where I was didn’t seem as cut up as I have seen it for other events at this location.
But Nathan T did allegedly fall over twice. But don't ask me for evidential photos as I don't have any.
The modular course itself is as it was last year and as it has been for many other XC events at this location. It seems to operate well with minimal marshalling.
In other
races, notably the 2km under 12 and 14 race, it is newsworthy that Kapiti sisters Mia Thomson (GU14) and Lucie Thomson
(GU12) headed off the boys in their age grade to pick up titles. Now this is a
challenge for the lads.
And the final mention must go to Joe Martin (Scottish) in the 4km race who ran a clever race to overtake Desmond Reddy (Olympic) to win the MU18 grade
For the WU18, Jessica McKenzie scored a
much-awaited victory which means her manager Stu McKenzie now has an improved chance to
keep his executive job.
Other
results are worthy of dissection, but that is for others to do.
As a final observation, I noticed that a lot of people who I would normally expect to be present were missing. I hope they have a note from somebody responsible to excuse their non-appearance.
4km Race 1 Photos, Boys & Girls U16 & Men & Women U18 and U20, Oldies from 50 to Over 70
Race 2 1km Photos, Boys & Girls U10
Race 3 2km Photos, Boys & Girls U12 and U14
Race 4 8km Photos, MenU20, Senior Men and Women, Oldies in Waiting 35 - 50
FIN
