News

Hill City-University members were out in force contesting the various races held in conjunction with the Dunedin Marathon. In the featured NZ Half Marathon Championship  Senior Men’s race Jared Monk and Joshua Baan continued their good  recent form  finishing 3^rd and 4^th respectively in good times of  !:10.15 secs and !: 10. 29secs. This race was a hotly contested with some top runners from around the country taking part.  Well done also  Christopher Mills who surprised with is 7^th placing in 1:14.11secs and Tim Bolter who won the Men’s 40-45 section in a time of 1:18.05.

One of the highlights of the day was the performance of Barbara Patrick who finished 1^st in the women’s 70-74 section. Barbara slipped in under the radar to break a New Zealand fastest time record for the distance. Sensing a record could be within  her grasp she let loose with a withering finishing sprint bringing her to the finish line in 1:54.55  just beating a long held national record from 2004 by 1 second.

The marathon was a triumph for Romain Mirosa whose determination and fitness    over the latter half of the race   proved to be too much for his competitors to match. Congratulations to Romain who finished well ahead in a time of 2:38.38secs.  For determination it would be hard to match that of Morris Hall who completed his 31^st Dunedin Marathon and 56^th personal marathon by finishing in 21^st place in the Men’s 50+ section in a time of 5:12.50secs.

Cathy Weatherston typifies the perennial runner who has taken part in these races for personal achievement, satisfaction and fun for many years. Cathy this year finished 7^th in the 10K race in the women’s 50+ section in a time of 1:02.40secs. Cathy’s father was the first patron of the Hill City club.  Oli Chignell Senior Men; Stephen Bloomfield Men’s 50+ and Taryn McLean Senior Women’s and Women 35-39 were all successful in winning their sections of this race.

Oli  Chignell passed up the opportunity to add a fourth national title to his collection for the year electing instead the 10K event which he won in a the very good time of 32:44 secs. Simon Cromarty also impressed with a very good time of 34:26 for third place.

Other Hill City –University members whose performances are worthy of noting include: Alistair Richardson 6^th SM, Robbie Johnston 1^st VM50+, Cilla Dickenson 6^th VW 50+, Emma Doyle 40^th SW, and Brigid O’Neill 194 SW (Open Half Marathon);  Jake Owen 11^th SM, Luke Geddes 13^th SM, Shea Darwen 17^th SM (10K Race); and James Matthews 11^th SM, Thomas Hadley 14^th  SM, Gordon  Tocher 3^rd VM 55-59, Aly Craigie 3^rd SW  in the NZ Half Marathon Championship.

Well done to all involved in organizing this mammoth event.  It gets better every year.

Bruce Beath

Hi everyone!

Wow, what a great weekend at the Otago Cross Country champs at Waikouaiti! Perfect weather, good mud to firm ratio and GREAT results!! That brings us to the end of the Otago XC season. On the 5th August however, Sam Bremer, Jacob Priddey, Josh Baan, Oli Chignell, Rebekah Greene and Shauna Pali (excuse me if I missed someone!) will head up to Wellington to compete in the NZ Cross Country champs, all the very best team.

This weekend, we return to home base to meet with our fellow Dunedin harrier clubs for a combined run or walk. We will meet at 1.30 for a 1.45pm start, so be on time. There will be a kids run, as well as child care for littlies if you need it. Bring something to share for afternoon tea as normal.

Membership: Special welcome to our newest members, it would be great to meet you this weekend, please get in touch and let me know if you are coming so we can keep an eye out and make you feel most welcome.

Some of our regular attendees have STILL not registered with the club. PLEASE do this, its nearly August and this is very naughty of you. Let me know if you need a hand with this. Also, if you have forgotten to pay for your club singlet, I can resend you the details if you need them.

TK Cowan- 4th August Tomahawk Hall: This my favourite race, not only because I am a Cowan…It’s an 8km handicap race over road, beach, golf course. Very fun and I encourage you all to join us on that day. Our fellow clubs including the Tri-club will join us too. You don’t need to register, just come along. We will also need some marshals for this race please.

Thanks everyone, let me know if you have any questions

Merrilee

Hi everyone,

We really are in full swing with cross country season, and the outstanding achievements just keep coming. Well done everyone on the training you are putting in, and the performances each event truly are amazing.Of special note, in the U13 race- Max Holgate (1st) Lachlan Crumpton (2nd) boys, and Lila Rhodes (2nd) and Kotomiyo Cowell (3rd). U15 boys- Jake Owen (1st) and  girls- Zara Geddes (2nd). U18- Drew Cairney, Will Scharpf and George Bates had a battle to take out 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. In the 50+ race- Cilla Dickinson placed 2nd. Senior men- Oli Chignell, Sam Bremer and Alistair Richardson set the pace and finished in 1st, 2nd and 3rd also. Oli takes home the trophy for the Edmond cup title for the fourth time running! Well done everyone.

This weekend: We are going to be hosted by the mighty Caversham club at their clubrooms in Corstorphine. This is at the very top of Middleton Road next to the food store. If you need better directions (not naming anyone…Brittany…!) let me know. Im happy to give anyone a ride there too so just sing out. Kids there will be a run for you too of course! Please dont forget something for afternoon tea, and be there for a 1.45pm start- Hill CIty Uni…DONT BE LATE!

Thanks, have a great week.

Merrilee:)

Hi everyone!

Thanks to all the club members and their friends and family who come to help us with the fun-draiser lamb tasting session at the Department of Food Sciences last night. It sure was fun! Thanks to Phil Bremer for getting us this club fundraiser for us, and for the yummy lamb samples!

This weekend, we have the club cross country at Rotary Park. This is combined with Ariki, and possibly Leith also. Its a fun 5km course, and its handicapped. My favourite! All the club members who have run something this season have a handicap all set to go, and there is no charge for this event. We will meet at the Ariki clubrooms at Bayfield Park at 1.30pm, get a race number and handicap, and from there we will head up to Rotary Park to get started for 2pm. You can run up, or carpool with someone. Please bring something to share for afternoon tea back at the Ariki clubrooms after. If you need a ride to Bayfield, let me know:) Childcare can also be available if needed.

Saturday 30th June: The Edmond Cup Cross Country- Wingatui, Mosgiel. This is an Otago Centre event, so entries are online at Athletics Otago. We are the lead club for this event, so help is needed to set up and take down the course please. If you are running, can you please let me know if you are able to head out a bit earlier (12pm) and can help set up. Thanks in advance!

Kennett Cup XC champs- Christchurch, 7th July: Entries close for this on the 2nd July, and are via the club only. If you are planning to run this event, please let me know by Monday so I can get this done for you.

Takahe to Akaroa National Road Relays: Spots are filling up fast for this, so get in touch asap if you would like to go so we can accommodate you in a team.

Thanks again

Merrilee

Hi everyone,

Well that was certainly a cold weekend. Well done to everyone that came along to the trots at Forbury Park raceway yesterday, Hill City-Uni’s first time to this day, so now we know the lay of the land, we will know what to expect for next year! Thank you to those who helped with the Athletics Otago Kid’s XC today, there was a good turn out of kid’s depite the cold. Im still cold!

Next weekend, we return to basecamp at the HCU clubrooms, Logan Park. We will welcome the other Dunedin clubs to join us, but is sure will be great to run/walk from “home” again. As usual we will meet at 1.30pm, and head out around 1.45 when we are organised. We can have “kid’s club” for the littlies if you want to bring kid’s that are too little to run, please let me know by 10am on Saturday. Bring something to share for PM tea

Barnes Cross Country: Sunday 10th June: Entries are open for this on the Athletics Otago website http://www.athleticsotago.co.nz/Events/Events/barnes-cross-country-19 . This is infact open to competitive and social members, but competitively registered members will find it cheaper to register for this race. Its very fun, and handicapped (Slower runners start earlier than faster runners). Give it  a whirl if you are keen, its a goodie! I have Otago competition numbers for those who have not got them yet, ill bring them on Saturday

Merrilee