This week

  • Tuesday 6.00 pm, speed session with Alice and Rowan, outside Freyberg Pool. This week’s session is 500m reps and 10 and 5km pace — more details on Facebook.
  • Friday 12.27 pm, Kupe Run, a chatty pre-weekend run from the Kupe statue on the waterfront.
  • Saturday 8.00 am, Karori Park speed workout — contact our club captains Emma and Bert, or check Facebook for details. 8.00 am warm-up for an 8.30 am start. All speeds and interests are welcome.
  • Saturday 2.00 pm, our friendly club pack runs, leaving from our clubhouse at Prince of Wales Park, Mt Cook.
  • Sunday long pack runs — usually, these leave 8.30 am from outside Freyberg Pool and some alternative locations around Wellington. Contact our club captains, Emma and Bert, or check Facebook for details.

Results

Rotorua Marathon

Mel Brandon was the outright winner and NZ Masters Marathon Champion in a time of 3:00:08. Karl Jackson was 3rd M35 in a big new PB of 3:07:09. New member, Darshna Govind was 3rd in the half marathon in 1:39:05. Ian Morton won the 10km walk in 1:10:31.

From Athletics NZ:

“Wellington-based mum-of-three Mel Brandon claimed a decisive victory in the women’s marathon, clinching top spot in 3:00:08. Brandon, 44, who only took up the sport seven years ago, proved it’s never too late as she claimed the biggest win of her career so far.

A delighted Brandon, who competes for Wellington Scottish, said: “It’s a real honour to win because I don’t consider myself that great a runner, I consider myself a novice because I’ve only been doing running a short time.

“I’m grateful to be fit and healthy enough to run such races, although I definitely didn’t get my (time) goal by a long shot. I was probably too ambitious with my expectations, given that it is such a tough course to get a PB on. I pushed too hard, and by the 30km mark, I felt a bit spent, and it was just a real hard slog coming home.”

Brandon, mum to 15 and 13-year-old daughters and an 11-year-old son, hopes her efforts in Rotorua can act as an inspiration to her three children.

“They are really proud of mum, and this will mean a lot to them,” she adds. “I do strive to be a good role model, and the lesson I want to pass on to the kids is that hard work and effort pay off.”

Sydney Marathon

A big PB to Hannah Stephen, 03:44:18!

Results

Gala Dei Castelli, Bellinzona

Hamish Carson ran 7:58.92 in the 3000m for 12th place.

Results

Tauranga Marathon

Ben Twyman won the half marathon in 1:14:22.

Results

Hutt Valley Marathon

Half Marathon run: Dan Jones (1:08:48) and Emma Perron (1:21:27) won, Grant McLean 1:20:24, Brad Wong 1:24:41, Mel Aitken 1:25:31, Ben Cornelius 1:26:05, Charlie Hulley 1:26:59, Caroline Fyfe 2:10:39, Karen Jenkinson 2:22:46.

Half Marathon Walk: Terri Grimmett 2nd in 2:38:07.

10km run: Hiro Tanimoto (32:07) and Sophie Whelan won. Hinano Andrews 53:45, Kahurangi Graham 1:04:02, Loretta Desourdy 1:07:14, Fiona MacMaster 1:16:19.

10km Walk: Ian Morton 3rd in 1:11:14, Daphne Jones 1:27:19, John Hines 1:39:50.

Cool Kids Kilometre: Naomi Richardson won the G9-10 in 3:39, Carla Horspool was 3rd in 4:04, Rowan Richardson 4:48, Emerson Cunningham 4:51, Arlo Cunningham 6:36, Jesse Horspool 4:53.

Results

Coming up  

Wellington Race Walking Championships, 25 September, Te Marua

The Athletics Wellington Race Walking Championships will be held on Sunday, 25 September 2022, on a measured course on the Twin Lakes access road at Te Marua, Upper Hutt. Trentham United Harriers & Walkers and Wellington clubs are jointly hosting the event.

There are Championship, A Grade and non-Championship B Grade races. Only registered financial members of Wellington Centre clubs can be placed in the championships, but visiting walkers may enter the A Grade races.

Race details

NZ Road Relays, 1 October

‘Nuf said.

Bernie Portenski Memorial Cup, 14 October

The Bernie Portenski Memorial Cup in Titahi Bay is a 9.1km handicapped race over road, beach and trails to celebrate the end of the harrier season and to commemorate Bernie Portenski. The overall winner on handicap will hold the Bernie Portenski Memorial Trophy for a year. Scottish members also compete on handicap for the Baudinet Cup and Ladies Open Handicap Cup.

Race details

Wellington 10000m Festival, 19 November

The Wellington 10,000m Festival is the most popular set of 10,000m races in New Zealand. For the last four years, this has been a night of PBs for athletes of all speeds — 40 percent of athletes finished with a new best time.

We are very excited to announce that in 2022 we will be hosting the Athletics New Zealand 10,000m Championships for men and women across two separate races. Combined with this, are a number of new initiatives to enhance your running experience and create an incredible atmosphere for participants and spectators.

As always, we will host a number of 10,000m races, and all will have packs of many different speeds to drag you to your new PB. Races are open to men and women of all age grades.

Entries open soon. 

Race details

Notices

Wellington Masters Athletics Annual General Meeting, 13 October

7 pm start time. Olympics Harriers Clubrooms, Bannister Avenue, Johnsonville

Nominations are called for the following positions

  • President — Michael standing down
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Committee members — Sharon standing down
  • Patron

Join the association at the AGM. They’re keen for as many well-wishers as possible to help us thank outgoing Michael and Sharon Wray for their huge contribution and long-standing service.

Singlets

Going to National Road Relays and need a singlet? Please organise this before the trip — Heather Walker won’t have spare singlets in Christchurch. Contact Heather by email or 021 583 716

Run4Reef — the world’s greatest race against time

Climate change has already caused unprecedented devastation to precious oceanic ecosystems worldwide. Run4Reef is a new global movement created to benefit the Great Barrier Reef and local conservation initiatives by WWF New Zealand. Happening on Sunday, 16 October, across 23 locations in Australia and New Zealand, including here on Wellington’s waterfront, Run4Reef aims to bring together 100,000 participants of all ages and abilities. You can sprint, jog or walk, either 10km, 5km or 1km for kids. There’s a distance for everyone, so no excuse for not getting involved. Plus, there are prize money, an electric vehicle and trips to the Great Barrier Reef up for grabs.

So, why not gather the whānau, neighbours, and your work colleagues and sign-up for your and your loved ones’ health and the health of our planet. Contact Fiona Hayvice for more information.

World Cross Country Championships, Bathurst 2023

For the first time since Auckland in 1988, the World XC Champs will be held in Australasia, and this may be a unique opportunity to see all the world’s top athletes in action. On Saturday18 February 2023, the champs will be held at Bathurst, NSW, on parts of the famous Mt. Panorama motor racing circuit. There should be full NZ teams participating, hopefully including Scottish members and attempts are being made to have some of the World Champion 1975 NZ team attending as supporters. Already other supporters have made bookings — including Todd and Alan Stevens. For any further information, contact Alan.

Keep in touch with the club