Wellington Scottish and North Harbour Bays won the Men's and Women's titles at the New Zealand Road Relay Championships in Rotorua in Saturday.
Scottish repeated their win in Christchurch last year, beating New Brighton Olympic, winners in 2012 and Auckland City, the 2014 champions.
Pakuranga led at the first fourchanges but an injury to marathon runner Ciaran Faherty saw them fall back, allowing Scottish to grab the lead that they never relinquished to the end of the seven-leg 62.5 km relay. Auckland City Athletics moved briefly into second position before being overtaken by New Brighton Olympic.
Olympian Hamish Carson had the job of bringing home the Wellington club for their seventh senior men's victory in the fourty year history of the championships.
North Harbour Bays women's team had a battle on their hands with Hamilton City Hawks right to the finish with the winning margin being just over a minute, multiple NZ champion Camille Buscomb closing in on Leah Lassche over the last leg. Wellington Harrier Athletic finished third almost 13 minutes back.
It was the Bays club's eighth win in the women's championship.
The Junior men's title went to Papanui Toc H from Christchurch ahead of fellow Canterbury club Christchurch Avon, the defending champions, with Auckland City in third.
Auckland City Athletics were victorious in the Junior Women's relay, taking their fourth title in five years. Hamilton City Hawks and defending champions Nelson filled the minor placings.
Wellington Scottish demonstrated their dominance in the masters women grade, taking their sixth consecutive title from Hamilton City Hawks and the host Lake City Club.
Wellington Harrier Athletic Club made it a triple of masters men's titles, winning the all three masters men's titles (40+, 50+ and 60+), the first time this has been achieved.
The Best Overall Club award saw a three-way tie between Auckland City Athletics, Hamilton City Hawks and Wellington Harrier Athletic Club, all on 50 points, the first time there has been a tie at the event. Wellington Scottish also finished on 50 points, but placed fourth on a countback.
Results:
Senior Men: 1 Wellington Scottish 3:23.24, 2 New Brighton Olympic 3:24:29, 3 Auckland City 3:25.24.
Senior Women: 1 North Harbour Bays 4:00:00, 2 Hamilton City Hawks 4:01:02, 3 Wellington Harrier Athletic 4:13:59.
Junior Men: 1 Papanui Toc H 2:31:18, 2 Christchurch Avon 2.31.55, 3 Auckland City 2.32.33.
Junior Women: 1 Auckland City 3.01.22, 2 Hamilton City Hawks 3.02.05, 3 Nelson 3.04.29.
Masters Men 40: 1 Wellington Harrier Athletic 3.46.03, 2 Auckland City 3.47.10, 3 Hamilton City Hawks 3.50.50.
