Chris Sanson wins road championship 10km race in Arctic conditions

Chris Sanson fought off the competition and the polar blast to win the Athletics Manawatu¯ Wanganui Road Championships 10-kilometre race.

Making use of the new He Ara Kotahi Bridge Across the Manawatu¯ River in Palmerston North, last Saturday’s champs, hosted by the Manawatu¯ Striders, were run right as the temperature dropped and the rain fell by the bucket load.

In the 10km race, which went out to Massey and back through the Esplanade, Sanson finished ahead of Harry Dixon and Nick Johnston.

Next home was Andre Le-pine Day, the first under-20 finisher, followed by David Lovelock, the M35 winner.

Other masters title winners were AJ Cornwall (M40), Michael Ives (M45), Andrew Davenport (M50), Neil Mayo (M55), Paul Woodfield (M60), Kevin Rolls (M65) and Roger Woodroffe (M70). The men’s walk title went to David Jones and Margaret Stuart was the women’s winner

The first event was a 1km race for under-8 and under-10 year olds. Ella Singleton (Palmerston North Athletic and Harrier Club) was first home, winning the under-10 girls’ title. She was followed by Aiden Billing (Wanganui Harriers), who claimed the boys’ under-10 title. Lewis Isles (Feilding Moa) was second place in the boys’ under-10 race, just ahead of the Moa duo of Harry Waugh and Johua Addenbrooke, the first two home in the boys’ under-8 race.

Under 12s, 14s and 16s, and some under-10 runners competed in the 3km race. Feilding Moa athletes dominated this event. Rueben Duker was first home, winning the under-14 boys’ title. He was followed by Cameron Walker, who claimed the under-16 boys’ title, and Hayley Cornwall, who won the under-14 girls’ race.

Sophie Addenbrooke was the first under-10 finisher. Taylor Trow (PNAHC) was first in the girls’ under -12 race and Lucy Evans was the first under-16 girl to finish. The first finisher in the boys’ under-12 section was Will Sablerolle-stone.

Stephanie Walker won the 5km women’s youth race.

The youth boys competed with the masters women’s grade over 6km. Sam Stichbury was the first male youth home, ahead of Ben Conder. The women’s masters titles went to Heidi Hasegawa (W35), Fiona Donald (W40), Paula Conder (W45), Dale Mcmillan (W50), Wendy Watts (W55) and Jo Speary (W60).

The first technical officials education and certification system level-two course to be held in New Zealand took place in Christchurch the other week. Fifteen officials from around the country were invited to attend the five-day course.

Local officials Steve Simcox and Brian Curry were were successful in passing the course exam, which makes them eligible to officiate at international competitions as well as being able apply for a place on the Oceania Area Technical Panel.

Debbie Fern, from Taranaki, and Sharee Jones, from Hawke’s Bay were also among the attendees.

Some news from the Feilding Moa Harrier Club, who have their 80th birthday celebrations today.

Club patron and life member Bruce Wilson is bringing along a heap of interesting Moa memorabilia he has collected over his many years with the club.

And between him and a few other ‘‘old timers’’ there is sure to be some interesting stories. Some perhaps may get exaggerated through the mists of time. For example, Wilson reckons the hills they used to run were longer and steeper than anything we do today and instead of fences or gates to leap, they had gorse hedges.

Wilson has been a club member since 1952, meaning this is his 68th year, perhapsa record among athletic and harrier clubs? Hope the celebrations go well.

It is annual general meeting time for many clubs and these meetings are a good chance for parents and members to make a contribution to the direction they would like their club to move in.

The Ashhurst club have their AGM on August 27 at 6pm at the Ashhurst RSA. Athletics Manawatu¯ Wanganui’s AGM will be held on September 11 and all clubs should be looking at making sure they are represented at this meeting.

In the 10km race, Sanson finished ahead of Harry Dixon and Nick Johnston.