Saywell runs to victory in opener

Ben Saywell claimed the handicap honours in Ruamahanga Ramblers' first race in their summer 5km series last week on the roads at the back of the Fensham Reserve.

Saywell clocked in at 30min 55s and was more than four minutes ahead of his nearest rival, Paul Furkert, on handicap, although it was Furkert who recorded the fastest time of 19min 32s.

The first 2km of the course was on a gravel road, which the council had graded that day, and the loose gravel made for a slippery surface.

Results were, in order of handicap time and actual time:

2km: Steve Pitney 20.13, 20.13; Michael Hyman 23.00, 8.00; Jack Britland 23.07, 8.07; Oliver Hammond 23.12, 8.12; Andrew Hyman 23.29, 8.29; Fergus Pitney 25.26, 10.26; Casey Cox 25.43, 10.43; Sarah Pitney 37.14, 22.14.

5km: Ben Saywell 30.55, 30.55; Paul Furkert 34.32, 19.32; Wayne Hyman 34.57, 24.57; Teresa Reynolds 35.09, 25.09; Malcolm MacDonald 36.36, 20.36; Greg Lang 35.59, 20.59; Steve Britland 36.08, 21.08; Steve Edge 36.14, 36.14; Nicholas Bailey 36.23, 21.23; Craig Bird 37.14, 22.14; Katherine Horsbrough 37.57, 22.57; Roi Remene 37.59, 27.59; John Ihaka 38.22, 38.22; Marshall Pitney 38.52, 23.52; Tina Bailey 47.20, 47.20; Irene Price 47.20, 47.20; Ali Lang 48.54, 38.54; Clarissa Price 50.41, 50.41; Wendy Burkhart 50.41, 50.41; Linda Sage 52.36, 52.36; Donna Saywell 52.36, 52.36.