Harriers' year ends in style

Athletics

Masterton harriers contested the last of this season's cross-country races on Sunday, with the annual club championships being held at Whangaehu.

A week of fine weather provided conditions as dry as any seen in recent years, and with the course-setters deciding to race in the opposite direction, making the hills less difficult, fast times were likely.

Thirteen trophies were competed for over distances ranging from 1km for the under-11s to 9km for the senior men.

The walking grade was won by Chris Van Gerven, remaining dominant after his eight out of eight wins through the cross-country series. Van Gerven won this year's title by beating last year's champion, Brenda Farley, by a mere two seconds, and in doing so won his first club title in 25 years of competition.

The senior men's championship for 2013 was won deservedly by Michael Macklin, who completed the 9km course in 37min 25s. He completed the course a full four minutes quicker than last year. Tony Price, the 2012 champion, was unable to match Macklin's speed, finishing the same distance in 40.20 as second male overall. The last time Macklin won a club championship was in 2001 when he claimed the under-18 title. Price did, however, win the men's 50yrs grade title.

Next across the line in the senior men's grades was Dominic Green who won the men's 40yrs grade title, completing what turned out to be a great day for the Green family. Daughters Bianca and Claudia won the under-14yrs and under-16yrs titles respectively, while Robyn Green led home a very competitive women's 35yrs grade, by nearly a minute ahead of second-placed Denise Baker, who held the title last year.

The 2013 championships saw the introduction of a shortened men's 60yrs grade race, covering 6km rather than the full 9km. First home was Lloyd Millar, who rightly claimed to have won not only the title, but a new club record!

The women's senior race was won by Lesley Graham.

Winners were: Boys under-11 (1km): Travis Bartlett; boys under-14 (3km): Mathew Heard 14.09; boys under-16 (6km): Liam Heard 33.53; open men (9km): Michael Macklin, 37.25; men 40yrs (9km): Dominic Green 40.53; men 50yrs (9km): Tony Price 40.20; men 60yrs (6km) Lloyd Millar 29.15. Girls under-11(1km): Mia Bartlett 6.22; girls under-14 (3km): Bianca Green 17.03; girls under-16 (6 km): Claudia Green 41.27; women 35yrs (6km): Robyn Green 32.09; women 50yrs (6km): Lesley Graham 31.18. Walking grade (3km): Chris van Gerven 20.15.