More women take on Kauri Run
Six hours and 24 minutes is the time that it took Japan-based Kiwi Richard Coghlan to tackle
70km of challenging Coromandel Peninsula terrain on the Great Kauri Run held on Saturday.
Afield of 280 runners took on the challenge in disciplines of a
76km Ultra Run, a 32km Kauri Classic, a 23km Kauri Half Marathon and 12kmKauri Loop.
A5kmFun Run was also held in Coromandel Town— the finishing point for all divisions.
Organisers, the Spirit of Coromandel Trust, say the event drew excellent numbers includingmore female competitors than any of the dozens of events organised by the trust, which also hosts the Flight Centre K2 Cycle Classic in October andARCAdventure Race in February.
“This is our 69th event and the first timewe’ve had more women in an event than men,” coorganiser Andy Reid said.
The Trust is raising funds to establish a youth outdoor pursuits centre on the Coromandel.
The Great Kauri Run is also helping to re-establish depleted kauri forests, since every entrant receives a kauri seedling that will be planted by volunteers in June.
So far more than 3000 kauri trees have been planted, with a goal of planting 10,000 trees along the 32km Coromandel Town Success Track, which comprises part of the course.
Ultra runner Richard Coghlan took out the event ahead of Coast
2 Coastwinner Sam Clarke of Whakatane in 7:06:11. In 3rd was Mike Jolie of Auckland 7:13:58.
The women’s field was won by Courtney Pratt of Mount Maunganui in 7:41:29, followed by Sue Crowley of Rotorua in 7:55:39 and Merrily Harris also of Rotorua in 8:12:24.
The Kauri Half was won by Tairua’sKirsty Law in 2:43:42. Secondwas Rosemary Smart of Auckland in 2:44:58, thirdwas TrudieAssink of Papamoa in 2:
47:27 1 and fourth Elicia Milne, of Kaiaua, 2:48:46.
The Open Men’s division was won by Damon Nicholas 2:20:21; second GaryWalden Auckland
2:21:19; Ben Leaker Coromandel
2:24:55 and Simon Lee Auckland
2:43:52.
Winner in the 12km loop run was Hannah Gapes Rotorua 2
0:53:22, Michele Rogalin, Henderson, 1:09:00; and 3rd Vivianne Bongard Hot Water Beach 1:10:26 . The Men’s division was won by Keon Hall, Auckland, 0:53:16; Steve Wenzlick of TeAroha 0:55:19, and
3rd Rodney Poulgrain of Thames
1:00:20 .