CROSSCOUNTRY: Young and old battle it out over strength-sapping course

Under beautiful blue skies, 65 runners competed for this year's Hawke's Bay-Gisborne Crosscountry titles, on a demanding traditional course on Omarunui Road on Saturday.
Five patches of boggy ground, residue of a wet winter, plus the two hills at Fenton Kelly's farm sapped the competitors' resilience on every 2km lap.
In the first race, 10-year-old Tyler Hambleton (N) produced a powerful surge 450m from the finish to win impressively. He won by 9secs from Toa Elphick (N) with Angus Fuhrer (H) another 11secs adrift. Annie Creagh (N) won her first provincial harrier title in the Girls' 12y race, holding off an impressive effort from Holly Edmonds (N) by 8secs, while Gisborne's Brair Wilkie came through for the bronze medal 15secs back.
Laura Nagel (N) easily took the Girls' 14y over two lap, recording 18.52. Nagel was 20secs clear of talented newcomer to the harrier scene Greta Porter (H), while reigning champion Nikki Powell (H) struggled home third.
Jack Needes (N) won the Boys' 14y impressively in 17.19, while Brendan Speakman (N) came home with a strong burst to claim second from Duncan Morrison (H).
Katie Harris (H) claimed the Brown/Wheeler Trophy by winning the Women's 16y contest in 19.19. She just held off Danielle Kiely (N), who closed to within 2secs by the finish.
Pre-race favourite Scott McDonald (H) won a hotly contested Men's 16y race over three laps comfortably in the end. His time of 24.29 was 28secs faster than David Morton (H). Eric Speakman (N) in attempting to catch McDonald, rolled an ankle 1km from the finish and struggled home just behind Morton.
Ashley Aitken (N) waltzed away with Women's 19y title, recording 28.15 for the 6km. Sarah Starkey (N) only 14 years old and running out of her grade, battled away for second in 33.51, to head off Sarah Morton (H) by over a minute.
In his last season as a junior, Daniel Wallis (N) took the Frame Trophy for the third time by winning the 8km Men's 19y race. His time of 30.09, was 37secs ahead of Stefan Smith (N), while Ryan Woolley (31.19) made it a Napier trifecta.
In his 13th season as a senior, Craig Mathers (N) was rewarded for his dedication by winning the gruelling 12km race for the Senior Men's title. He took his opportunity after pre-race favourite Richard Potts (H) withdrew on the second lap with a hamstring problem. Mathers finished in 50.18, followed well back by Alistair Howard (H) in 55.52.
In the Masters Women's event, Marilyn Brown (N) won gold and the Veteran Women's Trophy, finishing the 6km distance in 32.40, followed by clubmate Cheryl Simpson (33.28).
Mark Speakman (N) won his first provincial championship, taking the Masters Men's race. He was unchallenged over the four laps. He won in 35.25, 33secs clear of Trevor Fulton (N) who withstood a spirited finish from Eric Phimister (N), who was another 6secs adrift.
A 16-person squad was selected to represent Bay-Gisborne at the nationals in Stratford on August 5.