This week
- Tuesday: Speed session, Newtown Track. Meet at 5:50pm for drills. Click this link for workout details.
- Thursday 6pm: Thursday trail group, Our last jaunt up Wright’s Hill. Next month we move to Mt. Kaukau. Check Stack for further details.
- Saturday 6am: Vert Day begins.
- Saturday 8am: Parkruns at Waitangi, Lower Hutt, Ara Harakeke, Trentham, Kapiti, Ōtaki River and Greytown.
- Saturday 8am: Karori Park session.
- Saturday 2pm: Pack runs and walking group leave from Karori Park this week.
- Sunday long pack runs — usually, these leave at 8:30 am from outside Freyberg Pool and some alternative locations around Wellington. All speeds welcome, coordinate on the Facebook page.
Results
The 2025 Vosseler Shield
An awesome showing from Scottish (in the race and in the cheering squad) on a beautiful Wellington day. A few select results:
5km race
Valentino Luna Hernandez was second overall, 1st in the non-champ/out-of-grade, with 22:43
Maddy Watson was first woman, third overall, in 23:34
Mel Brandon was first MW, fourth overall, with 23:40
Dave Kettles was 2nd in the M60, sixth overall, with 23:55
Michael Cummins: 1st M65 in 28:48
Christine Jones: 1st MW70 in 36:52
Our MW35 team of Mel Brandon, Amanda Broughton and Emma Bassett were awarded gold for the teams comp.
10km race
Open: Marcos Ángel Valero Palacios was third, with 39:39, closely followed by Joel Carman in 39:55
M35: Ryan Woolley came first, with 40:30
For the teams competition: Our top six men including Marcos Ángel Valero Palacios, Joel Carman, Tom Callan, Ryan Woolley, Hiro Tani and Thomas Hadley won the gold medal.
Broken down to grades, the first six senior men were also in first place, and the first six MW35 came in second, behind WHAC.
Full results here
The Bay Trail (Nelson)
Chester Holt-Quick came second in the Pepin 34km with 3:32:01.
Anna Breen, now based in Nelson, finished in 6:07:20.
Ultra Trail Australia
Oops sorry we missed this last week: Beth Garland ran the Ultra Trail Australia 22 in 2:08:55, coming in fifth female.
Parkruns
Check out all the results here.
Notices
Kāpiti Half Marathon discount
The Kāpiti Half Marathon isn’t until November 9, but we have a secured a deal: We have set up a Wellington Scottish team which comes with a 20% discount. Each participant enters and pays for themselves and will automatically receive 20% off thanks to Dark Horse Coffee. You must use this link to get the discount when entering.
WUU2K volunteers
We will host an awesome Scottish aid station at WUU2K again this year (12 July). Kath Littler has kindly volunteered to lead this project. All volunteers are offered a half price WUU2K t-shirt, discounted merchandise, discounted WUU/WAI race entries, and are welcome to come along for some drinks at the Volunteers Party (usually the first Sunday after race weekend at Waitoa Social Club on either Vic street OR Hataitai – TBC).
Contact Kath if you want to be involved.
Can you house the Scottish tent?
We need someone to look after our gorgeous tent and take it to races (or help get it to races). If you can give the tent a loving home, please let us know.
Scottish apparel for sale
We now have women’s cuts available in our two technical short-sleeve t-shirts.
Check our clothing for sale on our website
Coming up
31 May: Vert Day
Start 6am Saturday 31 May and get as much cumulative vertical elevation gain as you can in the following 24 hours, through to 6am Sunday 1 June 2025. Most vert in 24 hours wins. More details here.
Hinano Andrews is running a Vert Day challenge to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation. Full details and sign-up here.
2 June: Resurrection of the “Stevens invitational” Ballantyne Cup
At 9am on Monday morning 2 June (King’s Birthday) Todd, Peter, Dani and Alan will be resurrecting the traditional “Stevens invitational” Ballantyne Cup, with a few tweaks. The Ballantyne Cup will once again be located by the mighty Hutt River, using the 2.5km loop of Strand Park, Ava Railway foot bridge, Ewen Bridge. Runners and walkers will be able to choose between racing 1, 2 or 3 loops – with trophy winners being closest to their handicap. The race is timed and designed to be the perfect primer for the Dorne Cup, five days later. In keeping with tradition, after the racing a morning tea spread will be put on by the Stevens family (for first time since Peter and Todd were just young whippersnappers!) at St Stephen’s Church Hall (now called St Marks) in Woburn Road.
7 June: Dorne Cup
The Dorne Cup is a flat cross-country race at Trentham Memorial Park that usually takes place on the second Saturday of June. It is one of the biggest and most prestigious cross-country races in New Zealand. Hutt Valley Harriers organises the race. Everything you need to know here.
(No Saturday pack run this day.)
8 June: Barefoot XTRAIL Series – Towai Traverse
Surrounded in lush bush, high peaks and stunning views in Wainuiomata. Three options: approximately 7km for short course, 14km for medium course and 21km for long course. Full details on the event website.
15 June: Three Peaks
The next event is on Sunday, June 15 and will cover Mount Victoria, Mount Crawford and Mount Albert. More details can be found here.
21 June: Shaw Baton Relay
Teams of four race in 2.1km each of hills, horse jumps, ditches, fences and the spectator favourite water pit. The Shaw Baton Relay was postponed from May after heavy rain. It is hosted by Olympic Harriers and takes place at Pauatahanui’s Battle Hill Farm Park.
(No Saturday pack run this day.)
21 June: Barefoot XTRAIL Series – Starlight Makara
A night run through bush-clad trails with hundreds of other bobbing head torches, all under a starlit sky. There’s a 6km and an 11km course. Details and entry here.
29 June: Wellington Marathon
The Wellington Marathon returns on 29 June 2025 including a Half Marathon, 10km fun run and Kids’ Magic Mile. All races consist of flat out and back courses starting on the Sky Stadium Walkway, and heading south on Waterloo Quay toward the Railway Station. In 2025 the Half Marathon also doubles as the New Zealand Championship and Wellington Championship.
12 July: WUU2K
The WUU2K (Wellington Urban Ultramarathon) includes a 21km half trail marathon, 45km Trail marathon, or 65km Ultra Trail marathon. The courses explore some of the most picturesque trails surrounding Wellington city, with hills that will challenge even the most seasoned runners.
Keep in touch:
- If there is anything you want to be added to the Scottish Newsletter or if your results have been missed, please email us at wellingtonscottish@proton.me
- If you want to contact anyone about anything, your first port of call is our club captains, Meg and Joel and our club president, Andy Ford.
- Public Facebook page and join the Scottish member Facebook group here.
- Website
Notes about results and upcoming events
- If you want your event added to this newsletter, contact us by Sunday evening.
- We’ll publish an event or a result and what makes it special if we’re told about it. So let us know what you, your friends, family members and teammates are up to. It is especially important for coaches to let us know when your athletes are attempting and achieving their goals.
- If you don’t want your name published in the newsletter or on the website, please let us know so we can omit you from the results.
| Lifestyle Sports is a long-term supporter of Wellington Scottish, providing us with sponsorship in various forms and offering our members a 10% discount. Their store is located in Outlet City in Tawa, near the exit from SH1. They sell discounted running shoes for adults and kids, along with other running gear, and will make special orders – all with our 10% discount added on. If you shop at Lifestyle, please mention that you are a Wellington Scottish member. Let them know that we’re good customers! Lifestyle Sports on Facebook |
| Wellington Scottish have partnered with physical therapy practice Rehab Co., to help keep our runners on the roads and trails, doing what we love to do. More information about this new partnership, including how to book appointments is on our Scottish website. |