Remember to sign up as a member for 2023.

This week

  • Tuesday 6.00 pm, interval session with Andy, Alice and Rowan, outside Freyberg Pool.
  • Friday 12.27 pm, Kupe Run, a chatty pre-weekend run from the Kupe statue on the waterfront.
  • Saturday 8.00 am, Rotorua Marathon, Rotorua
  • Saturday 12.00 noon, The Whittaker’s Chocolate Walk, Queen Elizabeth II Park, Paekākāriki.
  • Saturday from 1.15pm, children’s scratch races, Queen Elizabeth II Park, Paekākāriki.
  • Saturday 2.30pm, University Relays, Queen Elizabeth II Park, Paekākāriki.
  • Sunday long pack runs — usually, these leave at 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.
  • Sunday, 11am, Wings for Life World Run, on the waterfront behind Te Papa.

Results

Shaw Baton Relays

26 Scottish teams took part in the relays (possibly a record?) and 5 J-Teamers competed in the under-10 race. Our two national champion teams, the W50s and M50s couldn’t win — there were only 13 seconds separating the top three teams in a thrilling M50s race — but lots of great performances in those two grades and all the others. Highlights included:

  • Phil Sadgroves’ last km with a pulled hammy but still got 3rd quickest individual run in the M60s helped his team to victory.
  • Ben Brunner in the juniors (6.09) was the fastest junior and second quickest overall. His team, which he essentially organised by himself, won the junior men’s grade.
  • Seamus Kane had the fastest lap of the day — 6.05, and guided his senior men’s team to first place.
  • The W35s were 1st and 3rd. Carla Denneny and Lindsay Young picked off runners in the middle of the race to help bring their team within 40 seconds of 2nd.

There were also victories to the W60s (dominant), U14 Mixed (Go J Team!), and M35s (swagger).

Results

Peter Tearle Walking Trophy

Handicap places:

  • 1st Peter Dunn (Trentham) 0 handicap + 47:00 = 47:00
  • 2nd Helen Willis 12 handicap + 37:20 = 49:20
  • 3rd Maryanne Palmer 12 handicap + 37:29:00 = 49:29
  • 4th Jackie Wilson (Trentham) 15 handicap + 34:38 = 49:38
  • 5th Terri Grimmett 14 handicap + 35:51 = 49:51
  • 6th Clive McGovern (Trentham) 19 handicap + 31:32 = 50:32
  • 7th Arlene Wong-Tung 12 handicap + 38:39 = 50:39
  • 8th Ian Morton 16 handicap + 35:18 = 51:18
  • 9th Daphne Jones 10 handicap + 41:32 = 51:32
  • 10th Bob Gardner 13 handicap + 44:29 = 57:29
  • Peter Tearle Trophy: Helen Willis
  • Fastest Woman: Jackie Wilson
  • Fastest Man: Clive McGovern

2023 World Triathlon Duathlon Championships, Ibiza

Susan O’Brien was 8th woman in the 35-39 age group, in the sprint race.

Results

London Marathon

A result I missed last week: Todd Stevens ran the London Marathon in 2:54.09 (halfway 1:26.59. 5km splits: 20.36, 20.32, 20.43, 20.39, 20.22, 20.36, 20.44, 20.47).

Todd says: “Definitely the world’s premier marathon in my view (even if it is very congested). No other event can compare to the supportive crowds (especially on Tower Bridge) and engagement with the city. The charity aspect is huge. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity. And good to still be able to get under 3 hours as an old fella. 

“I haven’t got any marathon photos sorry. But attached is one of Hamish and me. After doing the World Masters in Poland last month, I went and lived with Hamish at his Olympians training camp in St Moritz in the Swiss mountains; living the pro athlete dream. He’s such good company. And he is so fit. St Moritz is a stunning place, especially for distance runners.” 

Notices

Nau mai

Welcome to new member Bradley Christison.

Singlets

Thanks to those who picked up singlets at Shaw Baton and have already paid. If you haven’t paid yet, all singlets are $50 (both styles). Please make an online payment to the club bank account and write the word ‘uniform’ and your name in the details somewhere. 38-9005-0501833-00 (WSAC bank account)

If you need a singlet, Heather will have them at University Relays next weekend, 6 May, or probably at the club the weekend after (13 May). Or, people are welcome to drop around to Heather’s (Mt Cook — near the Renoulf Tennis Centre / Nairn St Park) in the evening midweek. Please text for the address and to set up a day and time at 021 583 716.

Note: Heather will be away from late May to mid-June, so if you need a singlet then (for example for the Vosselor Shield or Dorne Cup), please organise your singlet in advance (that is, by 20 May). 

NZ Cross Country Champs, 30 July, Taupō

Let us know if you would like to join us for a trip to Taupō for the NZ Cross Country Champs. The cross-country championships bring together the best distance runners in NZ — and they are also a great opportunity for a club weekend away with runners of all speeds and ambitions.

Spa Park, with its rolling hills, geothermal scenery, hotpools and fast-draining volcanic soil, is one of the best cross-country courses in NZ. And Taupō is a great venue for a club weekend away. We’ll sort out shared accommodation and transport for those who want it, as well as a shared club meal on the Saturday night.

Details and register your interest

Hutt Valley Harriers Centenary

Hutt Valley Harriers is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year over King’s Birthday Weekend. It is planning a couple of events in June and it is inviting anyone with a connection to the club to participate.

Register for HVH centenary events

Coming up

Tuesday night session, 6pm outside Freyberg Pool

It’s back, the world-famous Scottish Tuesday night session. From now until daylight savings starts again, we will be meeting outside Freyberg every Tuesday at 6pm ready for an exciting instalment of reps. Reps will typically be some variation of 500m, 1km and 1.5km at different speeds with different rests. We will break into packs so everyone (no matter your speed or experience) is welcome.

And for those who are new to Scottish (or not new but have not tried the Tuesday night session out) do give some thought to coming down over the next few weeks and giving it a go. It has been a lot of fun the last few years and so you don’t want to miss out (and let’s be honest, on those tough winter nights it is always nice to have company when you are trying to run at pace).

University Cross Country Relays and Chocolate Walk, 6 May

The Victoria University Athletic Club invites us to the Victoria University Relay events being held at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Paekakariki, on Saturday 6 May. 10 grades with 4 runners per team, compete over a sandy farmland 3.5 km lap. All grades start together. Walkers compete in the Chocolate Walk earlier in the day over a 6km walk on nearby roads. And juniors under 16 have a series of cross-country scratch races.

Contact your section captain to let them know you want to be in a team.

Race details

Wellington Masters Classic Relays 21 May

Trentham Memorial, Upper Hutt. See the website or Facebook for more details.

Vosseler Shield, 27 May

Race details. And here are ten reasons to run the Vossseler.

Dorne Cup, 10 June

A flat cross-country event around the picturesque Trentham Memorial Park and the Hutt River stop banks.

Race details

Wellington Marathon, 25 June

This event includes the NZ and Wellington half-marathon champs.

Includes the NZ and Wellington half marathon championships. The Wellington Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km fun run and Kids’ Magic Mile are based at Sky Stadium. All races consist of flat, out-and-back courses. The marathon and half marathon routes are scenic tours of the Capital’s harbour bays, passing iconic landmarks on the way. Walkers are welcome. Almost 5000 runners and walkers participate in this annual event.

Make sure you put down “Wellington Scottish Athletics Club” as your team name to be part of our half marathon and10km teams

Race entry and details

Keep in touch