Wellington Scottish Athletics Club

Running and Walking in Wellington, New Zealand

Galashiels Trophy and Novice Cup

Saturday 29 June 2024

Muritai Road, Eastbourne

This is a very popular race for Scottish members. This 4.9k race is run over a variety of terrain, including footpaths/roads, and an uphill bush track.

Show up at St Ronan’s Church, 234 Muritai Road in Eastbourne by 1.50pm, to find out your start time. The first runners will start at 2pm, around 300m north on Muritai Road, opposite the school. It is an open handicap race, where runners are assigned a handicap in advance. The handicapping system allows slower runners to start first and holds the faster runners back for later starts. The race becomes a pursuit, and there is often a large bunch finishing together within only a minute or so.

Anyone can win on the day, if they outperform the handicap that has been assigned.

There are two prizes for this race, one for past winners of club trophies (Galashiels), and the other for those who have yet to win one (Novice).

A separate event for race walkers (the Cole Land Cup) is held along the roads to the south. J-teamers have a 2k handicap/scratch race starting just before the 5k event.

Race notes

  • Distance: 4.9k (approx)
  • Start time: 2.05pm (first runner starts)∙
  • Handicapped start
  • Course: Head north along Muritai Road on the footpath for approximately 1.5k. Leave road at the “big tree”, head up the bush track, exit track at top of Korimako Road. Down the hill to northern end of Days Bay. Return to the school along footpath to finish (do not cross road to run on the beach like the course from a few years ago)
  • Be careful crossing roads (eg, Rona and Totara St) — give way to motor vehicles. Stay on footpaths where there is one.
  • Collect a place card at the finish and give it to the recorder.
  • Afternoon tea/prizegiving: approximately 3pm.

Previous results

History

The Galashiels Trophy was purchased by the Club in 1946 and is named after the birthplace of our club founder: Walter Ballantyne, a many times president and ardent supporter. Galashiels is in the Border Districts of Scotland and is the home of the Gala Harriers Club.

Affectionally known as “Pop” Ballantyne he and his wife lived in Eastbourne, and most seasons the club had a run from there. Significantly, some of our top runners came from the Eastern Bays: during the 1940s – Neil Dobbie and Michael Browne and during the 1960s – Grant Wheeler and Roger Wyatt.

Paired with the Novice Cup, the Galashiels was originally run from Miramar North School, then Prince of Wales Park and  has been on the current course for many years. Originally, when coming down off Ferry Road you crossed over onto the beach, along under the wharf (tricky when the tide was in!) then ultimately back up across the main road. Traffic ultimately made that impossible, hence the race now runs on the footpath, with obstacles, including humans.

Course records

NOVICE CUP SENIOR MEN

  • J. Girvan, 16.02, 1986
  • P. Perniskie, 16.48, 1986
  • A. Hodgson, 16.54, 1981

GALASHIELS TROPHY SENIOR MEN

  • D. Hatfield, 15.26, 1981
  • S. Denholm, 15.27, 1982
  • S. Hunt, 15.29, 1982

NOVICE CUP SENIOR WOMEN

  • M. Moon, 18.01, 1993
  • J. Stewart, 19.45, 1987
  • K. Howe, 20.24, 1986

GALASHIELS SENIOR WOMEN

  • Melissa Moon, 17:41, 2006
  • M. Moon, 17.59, 1995
  • B. Portenski, 18.56, 1987