An overview of the Scottish winter walking programme including race descriptions.
The winter programme suits competitive walkers of all varieties, from fully legal to freestyle. Scottish offers walkers two race competitions throughout the winter.
The Club Walking Championship consists of three 10km, judged races, in June, July and August. There is a separate competition for men and women. At the club prize-giving, club medals are awarded for the first three placings for men and women.
The Best All-Round Walker Competition competes over 9 races of various types and lengths. It suits walkers of all styles with only some races being judged. A prize is awarded to the winner at the Club prize giving. The section below titled “Scottish Athletics Club Inc Walking Competitions 2022” provides details.
Programme
2 April Club Walks
Throughout the winter season, there are walks from the clubrooms at 2pm most Saturdays. Alternatively, they may be arranged from other venues. The walking pack usually splits into two groups to suit your walking speed. These walks are a good way to learn new routes and meet other club members.
23 April Tearle Trophy Handicap
A 5km open handicap race in Island Bay. The start is staggered based on handicap and the winner is the first to cross the line. Handicaps are based on previous race results. Entry is free for Scottish Club members and only a Scottish Club member may win the Trophy. We do however invite race walkers from any club (or no club) to join us (there may be a small entry fee) at St Hilda’s Church, 311 The Parade, Island Bay by 1.30pm.
1 May 3 Peaks Race 1 (Race 2 15 May, Race 3 29 May – dates to be confirmed)
A social series is held on Sunday mornings. A chance to run or walk with others. Starting from 8am walkers and runners have to navigate their way by the fastest (not always the shortest) possible route to your choice of 1, 2 or 3 nominated peaks then return for morning tea. An entry fee applies.
14 May Chocolate Race
A turkey trot style race over 6km at Qe2 Park in Paekakariki (McKay’s Crossing entrance). This event is organised by the Victoria University Athletics Club and competitors estimate their time and race without a watch. The winner is the one who finishes closest to their estimated time. The entry fee is paid by Scottish for those with racing or standard membership.
22 May Wellington Masters Cross Country Relay
This popular Sunday relay for Masters Age competitors is held at Trentham Memorial Park from the Trentham United Harrier Club rooms. Teams of 4 race over a mix of sealed road, dirt/gravel tracks and grass. Scottish always has several running teams and walking teams. The entry fee is paid by Scottish for those with racing or standard membership.
?? June 10km Race 1
A fully judged 10 race over a course to be advised. The race has an A Grade and a B grade (for those who do not have a fully legitimate race walking technique). This is the first of three races for the Club Walking Championship. The entry fee is paid by Scottish for those with racing or standard membership.
19 June Wellington Half Marathon
A popular half marathon over a course from Sky Stadium to the far side of Evans Bay and back. This is the half marathon race for the Best All-Round Walker Competition. The entry fee is paid by competitors.
9 July Cole Land Cup
A 5km open handicap race on the footpaths of Eastbourne. The start is staggered based on handicap and the winner is the first to cross the line. Entry is free for Scottish Club members and only a Scottish Club member may win the Cup. We do however invite race walkers from any club (or no club) to join us (there may be a small entry fee) at Muratai School, 166 Muratai Road, Eastbourne by 2pm.
?? July 10km Race 2
A fully judged 10 race over a course to be advised. The race has an A Grade and a B grade (for those who do not have a fully legitimate race walking technique). This is the second of three races for the Club Walking Championship. The entry fee is paid by Scottish for those with racing or standard membership.
13 August Wind Needle Turkey Trot
The same style of race as the Chocolate Race above. This one is organised by Wellington Harrier and Athletic Club and is on a 5km course in Evans Bay. The start line is beside the Wind Needle at the Evans Bay Marina. The entry fee is paid by Scottish for those with racing or standard membership.
20 August Wellington Centre Road Championships (10km Race 3)
Fully judged 5km and 10km races held over a course at Te Marua on Twin Lakes Road. The race has an A Grade and a B grade (for those who do not have a fully legitimate race walking technique). This is the third of three races for the Club Walking Championship. The entry fee is paid by Scottish for those with racing or standard membership. Athletics NZ registration is required for official placings and medals in the Wellington Championships. Those with Standard Scottish membership may compete for the Scottish Club Championship.
27 September 5km Waterfront Road Races
If Covid allows, these races are run weekly through the summer from the start of daylight saving (25 September 2022) until that ends in late March the following year (2 April 2023). The start line is near the Taranaki St wharf — register from 5pm. This is race 9 of the Best All-Round Walker Competition. An entry fee is paid by all competitors. A good number of race walkers compete regularly in these events.
1 October NZ Road Relay Championships
Some years these Championships offer a Race walking section and Scottish has always entered a team or teams. Unfortunately this year there is no walking section on offer for the Takahe to Akaroa Relay.
October Track Races
From October through to late March the summer track season takes over. On most Saturdays, there will be a race walk over 2,000, 3,000 or 5,000 metres. On occasion, other distances may be walked eg a 1-mile race is held each December. These races may be judged and walkers can opt to be in either the A Grade or B grade (as for the 10km races above).
Other Races Popular with Scottish Walkers
Taranaki Race Walks Weekend – ?? June.
Taranaki Race Walking Club races in New Plymouth for seniors, juniors and masters. A prizegiving dinner is held in the evening.
Masterton Half Marathon – ?? October
Entry fee paid by competitors.
Pelorus Half Marathon – ?? November
Half marathon and 10km races over a course in Lower Hutt. Entry fee paid by competitors.
Other Race Walking news and event information
Check the Racewalk Wellington Facebook page for regular updates about coming events and for results of races. (see facebook.com/RWWLGNZ/)
A and B Division/Grade
All judged races will have a B Division for walkers that do not have a legitimate race walking technique. The Race Walking Judges will scrutinize walkers in the B Division race to ensure that, although they do not straighten their knees, there is no loss of contact and to make sure walkers are not running or “creeping” and gaining an advantage. If they are judged to be gaining an advantage the judges will issue cautions and red cards as in the A Division and the race organisers may decline to include them in the race results.
Scottish Athletics Club Inc Walking Competitions 2022
Scottish Athletics Club Walking Championship
These races are fully judged. There is a separate championship for men and women.
- Race 1 10km venue ? ?? June Fastest time
- Race 2 10km venue ? ?? July Fastest time
- Race 3 10km Te Marua 20 August Fastest time
Note: race 3 is the Centre Road Championships.
Scottish Athletics Club Best All Round Walker Competition
The 9 races below are held over the winter season with finishers earning points as below. Points from each competitor’s 9 best scoring events contribute to their total. The highest number of points in any 9 events wins the competition. The Scottish uniform singlet must be worn for all races for competitors to be eligible to earn points. Men and women compete together for a single trophy.
Points are calculated as follows:
- First Scottish member * = 20 points
- Second Scottish member = 18 points
- Third Scottish member = 16 points
- And so on down to 10th= 2 points
- Any Scottish member after 10th = 1 point for finishing
Races
- Tearle Trophy, 5km, Island Bay, 23 April, Handicap (first to finish)
- Chocolate race, 6km, Paekakariki, 14 May, Closest to estimate
- Road race, 10km, to be advised, ?? June, Fastest time (judged)
- Wgtn Half Marathon, 21.1km, Wellington, 19 June, Fastest time
- Cole Land Cup, 5km, Eastbourne, 9 July, Handicap (first to finish)
- Road race, 10km, to be advised, ?? July, Fastest time (judged)
- Turkey trot, 5km, Evans Bay, 13 Aug, Closest to estimate
- Centre Road Champs, 10km, Te Marua, 20 August, Fastest time (judged)
- 1st Waterfront 5km, 5km, Wellington, 27 Sept, Fastest time
Any blatant jogging, creeping or running observed will result in the walker being disqualified and earning no points from that race. Committee members will investigate any complaints and decide whether to disqualify a competitor from the race.
In the three judged 10km races points will be awarded in order of judged finishers followed by unjudged finishers, both in order of finishing. Any judged competitors who are DQ’d will move into the unjudged category and earn points following all judged finishers, according to their finishing time. This applies to both the Walking Championship and the Best All Round Walker competition.
Where there are less than 3 judges in any judged club race, the chief judge shall have the power to disqualify a competitor at any stage of the race, irrespective of the number of red cards against the competitor. This is a local variation to IAAF rules to ensure valid results in judged races that don’t have at least 3 judges.
Scottish Walking Trophies
Trophy Competition
| Albert Rowland Trophy | Men’s Walking Champion (fastest in the 3 judged races, including the Centre Championships) |
| Lonsdale Trophy | Women’s Walking Champion (fastest in the 3 judged races, including the Centre Championships) |
| Cole Land Cup | Eastbourne handicap race (first Scottish member to cross the line) |
| Tearle Trophy | Island Bay handicap race (first Scottish member to cross the line) |
| Best All-Round Walker | Most points in 9 events |
| Island Bay Award | Best contribution to walking in the Club throughout the year |
| Murray Gowans Cup | Closest to handicap or estimated time in Tearle Trophy, Chocolate Race, Cole Land Cup and Turkey Trot races. |
Wellington Scottish Athletics Club 