Running: Dean takes City to Surf title

TOP FORM: Maketu's Bobby Dean timed his run to perfection to win the Mainfreight City to Surf yesterday. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK 260914GN071BOP

The elements were hotter than the pace at the Mainfreight City to Surf and Bay of Plenty Times Surf to Surf, finishing at Main Beach yesterday.

The men's winning time of 39m 40s set in oppressive conditions was almost two minutes slower than Tauranga runner Kyle Macdonald's winning time of last year, with the leading women's time just four seconds quicker than the time set by Sarah Backler a year ago.

Men's Mainfreight City to Surf winner Bobby Dean was surprised by his strong form after originally not planning to take part in the event.

The Maketu runner, whose sister Jessica finished fourth in the 12km women's race, was a late entry on the morning of the event.

"I'm surprised, I didn't think I would win," he said. "It depends a lot on the field and who turns up. It's not as competitive as last year - some of the main Tauranga runners are missing like the Macdonald boys and Ben Ruthe. They're normally the frontrunners in this race."

Dean was pleased with the pace despite the absence of a number of familiar faces, sitting on the shoulder of second-placed finisher David Sullivan until the race's final stretch.

"I did it last year, and I did almost two minutes quicker this year so I'm stoked with that.

"I let him set the speed all the way to the base track and then I put on the gas."

Dean will now turn his attention to preparing for the Ironman and triathlon seasons, with the Port of Tauranga Half in January a major target.

Women's winner Sue Crowley saw her lead slip away on the Mauao base track, but managed to attack second-placed Jessica Walley on the last couple of hills to pull away to win by six seconds.

The Rotorua athlete had been close to writing herself off when Walley flew by, but backed her ability to attack on some of Mauao's tougher sections.

"The last kilometre I thought I could do it, she said.

"It's hard, once you go for it you have to commit yourself. I knew she was right behind me."

There was some difficulty with runners and walkers sharing the Mauao base track, but Crowley said the two groups of competitors managed without too many problems.

"They were pretty good - there were only a few. The ones that are going the same direction can be a little bit tricky because they don't know you're there. If you yell 'excuse me' they get out of the way - it's their day too."

James Robertson was the first runner home in the Bay of Plenty Times Surf to Surf in a time of 16m 49s ahead of Nicholas Wotton and Lee McLean.

Michelle Radley took out the women's event in 17m 14s, with Sophie McConnell and Lourdes Devine finishing second and third.