The Cross Country season kicks off properly this week with the famous Vosseler Shield races on Mt Victoria. Peter Wood from WHAC has a nice write-up about Fred Vosseler, who the event is named after. Vosseler was a renowned tramper, mountain climber, harrier and billiard table manufacturer. He was even falsely suspected of being a German spy during WWI. It’s no wonder, then, that a race that has unfairly earned a bad reputation, that can seem like like a tramp through the mountains, and that ends with you sunk in a pocket, should bear his name.

This year is the 100th Vosseler Shield Race. However, WHAC is struggling for volunteer marshalls. If you are not running and you think you can help, please contact Georgina Anderson

This week

  • Tuesday 6.00 pm, interval session with Andy, Alice and Rowan outside Freyberg Pool. This week’s session is 1km reps starting at half pace and dropping to 5km pace at halfway.
  • Friday 12.27 pm, Kupe Run, a chatty pre-weekend run from the Kupe statue on the waterfront.
  • Saturday 12.30pm, Anti-Vosseler. Walkers and anyone else not running the Vosseler will meet at the start area at 12.30 and walk the course (in the opposite direction to the runners) and give encouragement/advice to the runners. Club members and friends are welcome to join – the more, the merrier.
  • Saturday 12.40pm, Vosseler Shield, WHAC clubrooms, Alexandra Road
  • 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.

Results

Wellington Masters Classic Relays

The Masters Classic Relay was held on a wet, muddy and slippery Trentham Memorial Park and featured 14 running teams and 2 walking teams. The Scottish 240+ team (Marshall Clark, Ross Lake, Bob Stephens and Paul Rodway) placed 2nd and the Scottish women 240+ team (Heather Walker, Bev Hodge, Christine Jones and Loretta Desourdy) placed 4th in that grade. The slippery conditions caused one or two competitors to come to grief at the finish line, one being our own Bob Stephens.

The two walking teams were both from Scottish and the Open Walking team consisted of Terri Grimmett, Peter Baillie and Helen Willis, and the Walking 150+ team was John Palmer, Maryanne Palmer and Daphne Jones.

Part of the Relay was held over the Dorne Cup course, so it could be interesting in a couple of weeks if things do not dry out somewhat before then.

Scottish Three Peaks Event 1 

Thanks to everyone who turned up and had fun this morning at Event 1. The general feedback was that the trails were somewhat slippery, and the ‘shortest’ route was a shade under 19km. Congrats to Ali Wilson for the fastest female time (and fastest time overall), with Kyle Malone a close second.

Results

Honest Ten

PBs to Emma Bassett (by 17 secs), Gordon Pal (by 14 secs and his first time sub-40) and Brad Anderson (by over a minute). Brad has got 4 minutes quicker in the last 5 months!

Results

Sydney Half Marathon

Ian Morton 2:39:24

Results

Notices

Nau mai

Welcome to new member Ali Souch.

Returning members, remember to rejoin for 2023.

Coming up

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 and 10 km teams.

Race entry and details

WUU2K, 15 July

WUU2K is Wellington’s premier trail ultra marathon. This iconic event takes runners on a journey around the best trails and scenery in Wellington. Options include a 21km half marathon, 43km marathon, and the 62km ultramarathon.

Race details

Wellington Cross Country Champs, 16 July

Last year’s race details

NZ Cross Country Champs and Cross Country Relays, 29-30 July

Let us know if you want 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 an excellent opportunity for a club weekend away with runners of all speeds and ambitions.

Spa Park, with its rolling hills, geothermal scenery, hot pools 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

Keep in touch