‘Crazy year’ for Doug Moore but he still wants more

ON THE RUN: Doug Moore (147) and Wellington’s Julian Baker at the front of the field in the Remax Matokitoki Classic Half Marathon on Sunday. Moore went on to win the race in 1 hour 22 minutes 24 seconds, with Rocky Smythe second and Baker third. Moore has racked up a huge number of events this year — more than he intended — and is back in action this weekend in the Goat adventure run from the Whakapapa to Turoa skifields. Picture by Liam Clayton

DOUG Moore’s “crazy year” of racing reached another high with victory in the Remax Matokitoki Classic Half Marathon on Sunday.

The Gisborne builder has had an intense schedule over 2015 — including two trail ultra-marathons, six road and trail marathons, and at least 14 half-marathons — so could be forgiven for going into the race a little weary.

He responded with a winning time of 1 hour 22 minutes 24 seconds for the picturesque but physically demanding 21-kilometre course — a loop that starts at Waiteata Park, takes competitors over Ballance Street Hill, past the hospital, through Matokitoki, down Caves Road and then on to Riverside Road back to the start/finish line.

A gritty effort from Rocky Smythe, giving away well over 15 years to his rival, saw him finish second for the second consecutive year in 1:24.03.

There was clear air back to third-placed Julian Baker (1:31.25), Scott Pitkethley (1:32.51) and Ollie Walton (1:33.34), with veteran Graeme Lear (1:33.54) sixth.

The women’s division mirrored the men results-wise, defending champion Michelle Rennie (1:33.01) winning from Georgia Halley (1:34.05).

They were the top two last year as well, although this time Halley was only a minute back. In the 2014 race, she trailed Rennie by 10 minutes.

Rennie’s 2015 time ranked her fifth overall.

Annabelle Latz (1:42.39) was third woman home.

With main rival and 2013 winner Steve Morrow not entering, Moore was the pre-race local favourite although

Wellington harrier Baker had run faster half-marathons, so Moore was not overly-confident of topping the podium.

It was soon obvious that Moore, Smythe and Baker would decide the top three. It became a two-man title race when

Baker was dropped at the saddle section halfway through and Moore and Smythe reached the top together.

Moore scaled two gates faster than Smythe to open a small advantage then “gave it a decent shove” over the predominantly downhill 3km gravel section of Caves Road.

From there it was matter of not blowing up on the stiff climb of Holden’s Hill for the 5½km home.

“I have run the last section of the race plenty of times in training and knew where I could power it. But with Rocky still popping around the corners only 150 metres or so back I couldn’t ease off.”

That included an 18th kilometre clocked at 3.23.

In other sections, Maureen Hyland — Rennie’s mother — made it a family double by winning the women’s walk division in 2:51.09. Tom Palfi was first male walker (2:49.16).

There were also 5km and 10km races.

Running whiz kid Briana Irving won the 10km in 45.14 from Christchurch-based Mark La Roche (45.26) — here as contest manager of the Gisborne International Music Competition — and Tomas Seliger (47.26).

Myah Houthuijzen (25.02) won the 5km race from Bill McKenzie (25.28) and Coby Irving (25.48).

Gisborne Harrier Club committee member Paul Naske summed up the event in two words . . . “bloody great”.

“In typical fashion, Gisbornites waited for awesome weather and turned up on the day in full force. We had 120 entries and about half attempted the Matokitoki Classic.

“It was a hot day, but there were no fatalities, so we were happy,” he joked.

“We had entries from as far afield as the Czech Republic and even Masterton. Admittedly Tomas (Seliger) from

Czech Republic is on a working visa in town but you can see the potential reach of the event.”