Veteran right on the mark

Ramblers

Veteran Ray Wallis was right on time when the Ruamahanga Ramblers held a handicap race over a 5km course starting from the Belvedere Hall last week.

Wallis clocked in exactly when the handicapper predicted he would, proof that the ageing process has not dimmed the memory.

Overall, the dry, cool conditions made for faster times than might normally have been anticipated over a course which is often the hardest of the season due to the hilly terrain and wind with John Ihaka taking the opportunity to overtake Cath Wedderburn on the points aggregate for the walkers. With just one race to go, Ihaka would now need a poor result to be overhauled by arch rivals Wedderburn and Steve Edge. In the runners' aggregate series, Tessa Southey's excellent effort saw her edge past her mother, Susan, and she too will need to bomb out in the last race to not claim the major spoils.

Times, in order of handicap time and actual time:

2km: Kasey Cox 34.34, 10.44; Jack Britland 34.59, 8.49.

5km: Matthew Sebire 44.08, 27.08; John Ihaka 44.17, 34.17; Tessa Southey 44.32, 25.02; Marty Sebire 44.34, 24.34; Ray Haste 44.38, 22.18; Kate Gay 44.49, 31.19; Steve Edge 44.50. 33.40; Greg Lang 44.55, 21.05; Ray Wallis 45.00, 28.10; Trish Whale 45.11, 43.11; Linda Fairbrother 45.18, 43.08; Steve Britland 45.24, 23.04; Paul Furkert 45.27, 20.07; Anne Taylor 45.30, 26.00; Derek Cox 45.31, 20.41; Malcolm MacDonald 45.32, 20.42; Ali Lang 45.38, 37.38; Susan Southey 45.43, 26.13; Kevin Whale 45.45, 42.35; Craig Bird 45.48, 22.18; Irene Price 46.49, 46.49; Cath Wedderburn 47.06, 37.56; John Sage 49.02, 26.02.