With more than 2500 entries, the 20th anniversary of Fullers Great Sights half marathon promises to be the biggest and best festival of running and walking experienced in Northland. Saturday's 21.1km event starts south of Okaihau at the Waiare Road junction and finishes in Kerikeri Domain. The sole wheelchair entrant Lee Warnwill take off first at 7.55am, ahead of more than 1500 runners at 8am, followed by about 1000 walkers at 8.30am. This year's half-marathon doubles as the Athletic Northland Championships, open to runners registered with Northland clubs affiliated to Athletics New Zealand. Celebrations, including a street party, marking the event's 20th birthday will add to the festive atmosphere. Christchurch's Glynn Hadley, who finished second in the Auckland Marathon and fourth with a personal best of 1h 09m 26s in the Buller half-marathon earlier this year, measures up as the top contender. However, on this occasion, he intends to run with his girlfriend, who is aiming for 1h 40m. That may leave Whangarei Athletics' Ian Calder to claim overall victory, as well as a Northland title. Which Northland title, though, will depend on whether he enters in the open men's grade or the masters' 50-54 grade, as rules permit a runner to take only one Northland title. If Calder falters however, Mike Gowing will be snapping at his heels, with Michael Bird following. Northland masters' vying for men's titles will include Richard Blogg, Chris Seeley, Neville Bassett, John Kent, Fred Needham and Tony Langton, while Colin Thorne seems certain to take honours in the over 80s section. Entries in the women's half from both top triathlete, Sam Warriner, and top distance runner, Ady Ngawati, promise an exciting duel for honours - with both being capable of 1h 17m or faster. Mangonui's Emily McDowell - surprise winner of this year's Whangarei half-marathon - and Whangarei's Leigh Ruddock are likely to contest third, while Northland masters chasing women's titles will include Janice Powell, Jackie Grant, Judith Bradshaw, Annette Murray and, in the 75-79 age-group, Clasina Van Der Veeken. In the men's walk, a battle between Jim McKinstry and Allan Connelly is likely to feature.
