Cross-country course presents challenges

STRIDING OUT: Nicolas Proffit won the Gisborne Boys’ High School intermediate cross-country race in a time of 16 minutes 41 seconds for the 3.5-kilometre course. Picture by Liam Clayton

“FRISKY bulls” prompted a course change that meant records were not on the line in the junior and senior races of the Gisborne Boys’ High School cross-country on Tuesday.

But organisers and runners were pleased to be back on the school’s traditional Sponge Bay course.

Last year the school moved its cross-country to a course in and around Awapuni Stadium because the Sponge Bay course had dried out and the footing was uneven and considered dangerous.

But Term 3 was wetter this year, and the course was soft and in places muddy — conditions to which the boys did not object.

Nevertheless, the sun and wind made for a good challenge.

Top three placegetters in each race were —

Junior (Jowett Cup) 2.9 kilometres: Lachie Falloon (11 minutes 47 seconds) 1; Jimmy Somerton 2; Paul Le Goff 3.

Intermediate (Cooper Cup), 3.5km: Nicolas Proffit (16:41) 1; Jamie Denton 2; Oscar Ruston 3.

Senior (Miller Cup) 4.6km: Adam Donaldson (22:14) 1; Kyle Hannah 2; Sam Read 3.

The attitude and effort of the boys in training runs leading up to the cross-country had been excellent. Boys had set themselves goals for their training and this seemed to help motivate them.

First up was the intermediate race over 3.5km for the Cooper Cup. Runners did two “small laps” — twice up the hill track, along the ridge, back down the hill and then along the fenceline next to the road (always the muddiest part of the course).

Proffit won after leading for almost the entire race. Denton ran well to finish second, and Ruston showed his all-round athletic talent to finish third in his first Boys’ High cross-country.

Next was the junior race over 2.9km for the Jowett Cup. Competitors ran one “big lap” — up the hill track, over into the back paddocks, along close to Sponge Bay beach, back up over the ridge and down the big hill, through the mud and home.

This year, to avoid some “frisky bulls” in the back paddocks, the course was made slightly shorter, which meant the records for the senior and junior races were not on the line.

This was a shame because Falloon won the junior race in a fast time of 11:47. While he might not have set a record, it would have been interesting to see how close he came over the full distance.

Somerton was close behind in second place, with Le Goff competitive in third.

In the senior race — over 4.6km for the Miller Cup — it was good to see more seniors supporting the event than in recent years.

They ran one “big lap” followed by one “small lap”.

It was the last school cross-country for many, and organisers said it was great to see Donaldson win after competing hard without winning for the past five years.

Hannah ran well to finish second, while Read had a good race against older opposition to finish third.

Just under 200 juniors, over 200 intermediates, and well over 100 seniors ran in the races.

Organisers congratulated students who ran and represented their houses on the day, and thanked staff for making organisation so easy.

Also thanked were master of ceremonies Tom Cairns, for keeping things running smoothly, and the Nolan family, for allowing the use of their property.