Hawks make relay history

The 36th Red Stag Redwoods Forest Relay gets underway on Long Mile Rd on Saturday. Local runner Steven O'Callaghan (233) is pictured out in front. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

The Hamilton City Hawks masters team have proven age is no barrier when it comes to running.

The five-man relay team, from Hamilton, became the first masters team in history to win the Red Stag Redwoods Forest Relay on Saturday.

The popular event, which entered its 36th year at the weekend, saw hundreds of runners and walkers take part despite the wet weather on Saturday.

In the men's and women's events, each team featured five runners who ran one lap each of the 5km course.

The overall fastest time was expected to come from a team in the senior men's category on Saturday, but the Hamilton City Hawks masters team crossed the line first in a time of 1h 28m 15s.

Hawks runner Andrew Wark ran last in the successful masters team and said they were stoked to take it out.

"It is a great effort, especially when you consider most of our team is over 45." He said it was nice to get one over their senior men's team as well, who finished second overall.

Wark said the club always enjoyed attending the annual event organised by the Lake City Athletic Club.

"It is an awesome event, teams come from all over the country for it.

"And as a club, we look forward to the opportunity to bring as many teams as possible down for it each year."

The Lake City senior men's team were leading the overall race after three laps on Saturday, thanks mainly to a great opening 5km by local running legend Steven O'Callaghan. O'Callaghan posted the overall fastest lap of 15.46 minutes.

The successful Hamilton Hawks masters team included Kent Hodgson, John Crane, John Bowe, Jason Cameron and Andrew Wark.

The second fastest overall time on Saturday was set by the Hamilton City Hawks senior men's team (1h 28m 48s) followed by defending champions Pakuranga senior men (1h 29m 19s).

In the women's race, the Hamilton City Hawks defended their title with a good performance to hold off the two Lake City (Rotorua) teams. Meanwhile, the Lake City women's masters team took out their division led by Sue Crowley.

• Red Stag Redwoods Forest Relay results on Saturday:

Senior Men (5x5km): 1 Hamilton City Hawks (1.28.48), 2 Pakuranga (1.29.19), 3 Lake City Athletic Club (1.30.43).

Senior Women (5x5km): 1 Hamilton City Hawks (1.42.25), 2 Lake City (1.45.35), 3 Pakuranga (1.47.53).

Masters Men (5x5km): 1 Hamilton City Hawks (1.28.15), 2 Lake City (1.30.26), 3 Hamilton City Hawks (1.44.17).

Masters Women (5x5km): 1 Lake City (1.45.27), 2 Hamilton City Hawks (1.51.40), 3 Calliope (2.12.16).

Composite/Corporate (5x5km): 1 Tauranga Ramblers (1.35.24), 2 Red Stag Flying Fitters (1.46.53), 3 Taupo Harrier (1.49.22).

Male Youth (4x3km): 1 Westlake Boys' High (43.32), 2 Westlake Boys' High (44.42), 3 Westlake Boys' High (48.57).

Female Youth (4x3km): 1 Tauranga Girls' College (48.28), 2 Napier Girls' High (49.55), 3 New Plymouth Girls' High (53.31). Walkers (2x5km): 1 Taupo Harriers (66.56), 2 Calliope (71.06), 3 Egmont Athletics (72.32).