Linford, Akesson run to victory in Paihia

Olympians Jade Uru, Alex Maloney and Molly Meech were on deck at the Jennian Homes Mother's Day Fun Run/Walk in Paihia. Photo/Jason Milich

Harry Linford and Maria Akesson were the big winners in the latest round of the 2017 Sport Northland Run/Walk Series in Paihia.

The Jennian Homes Mother's Day Fun Run/Walk was supported by Olympians Jade Uru (rowing) and Rio silver medallist sailors Molly Meech and Alex Maloney, who came out to cheer on the competitors.

Many of the competitors wore the red Jennian Homes shirts in support of women's heart health in the ''Go Red for Women'' Heart Foundation promotion.

Linford took out the race which took the competitors from Paihia through to above the Waitangi Golf Course, returning through the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to the finish line in Paihia, in a time of 28.53.

Whangarei's Chris Mills was second home in 31.09 with Louis Young (Warkworth) third in 31.41

Whangarei's Carolyn Younger, who recently won gold in the half marathon and silver in the standard individual triathlon (W45-49) in Auckland at the World Masters Games and last year's Paihia winner, could only manage second place as Kerikeri's Maria Akesson won in 33.28.

Third home was Whangarei's Katie McVerry in 36.37.

The NorthCloud Leaderboard for the 2017 Sport Northland Run/Walk Series will see Linford and Akesson remain at the top with Mills and Younger also retaining their second places after the third event in the series.

Paihia turned on great weather for the 1070 competitors who ran or walked over one of two distances.

This year's event included the opportunity to enter in a pram run section. For Rhys Colmer pushing a pram was no barrier to running and completed the 8.7km course in 34:50 Finishing in tenth place overall.