Options this week

Unfortunately, it is another thin week for running coming up while we remain at COVID-19 Alert Level 2. At Alert Level 2 you can do your usual sport and recreation activities if you can do them safely. But if you’re sick, stay home. When exercising in public, keep a 2 metre distance from people you don’t know if possible and keep a record of where you go and who you are with.

Results

NZ Masters Track and Field Championships, Inglewood 

Grant McLean reports:

Wellington Scottish athletes were prominent among the Wellington team at the NZMA National Track and Field Championships held at Inglewood, 26-28 February, in beautiful conditions. It was a fantastic championship with some of the strongest fields and fastest times for many years, particularly in the 50s grades. 

The most notable results over the weekend however, go to our fellow Wellington team athlete Jacqueline Wilson (75) who broke two W75 world records in the 3000m race walk (19:18.90, taking our own Daphne Jones’ NZ record in the process) and 5000m race walk (31:58).

NZMA put on a great event, and our own Michael Wray did a grand job in his role as Vice President of NZMA in overseeing the event, presenting the NZMA Masters Athlete of the Year Awards and then ensuring the final day could go ahead under Alert Level 2 (sacrificing his own racing for the cause). Peter Stevens won Male Distance Athlete of the Year and Michele Allison won Female Hurdles Athlete of the Year.

Among Scottish medallists were:

  • W60: Terri Grimmett: 1st 5000m RW (34:32), 1st5000m (29:09), 1st 3000m RW (20:24), 2nd 3000m (16:34)
  • W75: Daphne Jones: 2nd 5000m RW (37:11), 2nd3000m RW (22:10)
  • M50: Grant McLean: 1st 5000m (16:25), 2nd 3000m (9:28), 2nd 1500m (4:27)
  • M50: Michael Wray: 1st 3000m steeplechase (13:42)
  • M55: Peter Stevens: 1st 3000m (9:50): Championship Record), 1st 1500m (4:51)
  • M50: Jim Jones: 6th 3000m (10:21)
  • M45: Andrew Kerr: 2nd 3000m (9:58), 2nd 5000m (16:59)
  • M45: Sean Lake: 1st 5000m race walk (31:09)

Results

Twilight Meet No. 6, Newtown Park

100m: Amy Walker 1st in 13.08. 200m: Amy Walker 1st in 27.07, Hiro Tanimoto 28.78. 1000m: Hiro Tanimoto 1st in 2:42.38, and event organiser Andy Ford was rewarded with a ‘sub-3’ time 2:59.94.

Results

Waterfront 5km

Waterfront 5km personal bests to Dougal Thorburn, Stephen Clarke, Kasey MacKinnon and Fiona Hayvice.

Results

Coming up

Waterfront 5km Series, Tuesdays

Assuming we come out of Alert Level 2, the Wellington Scottish Waterfront 5km will resume and continue until 30 March 2021. Please offer to help with registration and marshalling once in a while.

Scottish Annual General Meeting, 10 March, Anderson Park Cricket Club

Our Club Annual General Meeting takes place on Wednesday 10 March at the cricket club rooms in the Botanic Gardens. It’s your chance to hear how the club is doing, elect a new committee for the year and tell that committee what you want the club to do. We will gather beforehand at 5.30pm for a friendly pack run, leaving from the cricket clubrooms. The clubrooms have showers and changing rooms.

McVilly Shield Relay, 13 March, Karori Park

The McVilly Shield is the first club event for the season and a great way to get to know other people in the club. This relay has teams of three people each. Everyone can take part, runners, walkers, J Team, seniors, masters and friends of the club. Just turn up and we will find you a team. You can either race it or use it as an opportunity to do some training. 

Each team must do ten laps of Karori Park. No individual team member can do more than four laps. But you can do the laps in any order you like. The race is randomly handicapped after the teams start.

If anyone is planning to come along but isn’t able to run let us know as we’re looking for 3-4 volunteers to help with timekeeping, etc.

See this article for more information. 

Centennial Cup, 20 March, Island Bay

This is a flat 5km club race along south coast waterfront starting at Island Bay. This is normally our first club race of each season. It is the traditional opening race of the season where members will compete for the Centennial Cup. It is a sealed handicap event where our handicapper has estimated your time over 5km to determine your handicap. Everyone starts together and the finishing times are adjusted by your handicap to determine your net time and the overall winner of the cup. 

We normally meet beforehand at 1:30pm at St Hilda’s Church, 311 The Parade, to store gear. The race starts at 2pm. There is also a J Team race for the kids and race walk for the walkers. Then we return afterwards for an afternoon tea.

Last year’s defending Centennial Cup champion is Jasmine Smith.

Wellington 5000m Champs, 27 March

The Wellington 5000m champs will take place on Saturday 27 March late in the afternoon. There will be different races to accommodate runners of all different speeds and goals. New members to the club will be welcome to take part.

Paul Hewitson from WHAC is leading the organisation, and he is looking for a few more helpers. Please let me know if you can assist and I will pass on your offer. Entries will be open later this week. Entry will be $5, which will contribute towards prizes for first place finishers. There will be a BBQ and drinks for sale on the day. This year will include a 70+ age grade category. Entrants must bring someone to count laps for them – one lap counter can count two runners. There will be a at least two races, based on predicted times. Slower runners will start at 4:30 pm. There will be a third event if there are over 30 in each field.

Keep in touch with the club