Experience trumps youth in fight for title

Harriers
Neil Mayo used his years of experience to outwit younger opponents and claim the Wanganui Harrier Club senior cross-country title on Saturday.
On a revamped course, Mayo patiently played a waiting game as Sam Simmonds attempted to run the legs off his rivals on the testing two-lap nine-kilometre journey.
With three-quarters of the race run, Simmonds faltered when climbing a steep section, giving Mayo the chance to pounce. Mayo took Josh Payne with him as they turned for home with Simmonds trying to regain the lost ground.
With one long climb left to the finish, the chasing Payne and Simmonds knew they could not let Mayo take a lead into the final hill. Mayo might be closer to 50 than 45, but that matters little to the gnarly veteran who thrives when the going gets tough.
Payne did his best but Mayo was not to be denied and stayed ahead to claim the Couch Cup in 38min 44sec, with Payne nine seconds adrift. Simmonds was third in 40min 48sec.
The Kemp Rosebowl for senior women was retained by Melina Holmes, ahead of Kim Whyte.
The Hopper Cup for veteran men saw Mike Gilbertson claim the title in his best run in club colours. Gilbertson beat perennial contender Jules Le Lievre to take line honours over the nine-kilometre test in 42min 09sec, with Le Lievre second in 44min 44sec.
Alan Caird surprised a few by taking third in 46min 19sec - the time spent on his mountainbike obviously paying dividends.
Lynne Peirse was a deserved winner of the veteran women's Francis Wilson Trophy, backing up from a strong performance at the North Island cross-country champs in Taupo to take the title by two-and-a-half minutes from Nelda Hazelhurst, with Tracey Prince another minute back in third.
In the walks, Gai Marie Smart was outstanding as she destroyed her competition, storming over the 6.5-kilometre course in 43min 16sec to take the Green Trophy. Megan Allen and Margaret Stratford took the other places on the podium. Barry Ross claimed another Green Trophy in the men's walk, keeping Darol Pointon at bay by four minutes. Bryan McCarthy was third.
In the age grades, the Carde Cup was presented for the first time since 2000 as Nic La Roche collected the M20 title, while Sam Hopper added the Greig Cup for the M18 to his trophy collection.
Georgia Black was too strong for the Le Lievre sisters in taking the WHC Trophy for the W20/18 title. Jordan Reardon retained the Robinson Trophy in the B14, running a tidy 11min 47sec for the 3km race to head home Christian Conder and Angus Dinwiddie.
Jacqui Hazelhurst took the G14 Harrison Cup ahead of Alyssa Le Lievre, while Thomas Conder got one back over brother Ben to take the Under-12 Kemp Trophy in 8min 22sec for a tough two-kilometre trip. Lucas Reardon was third, with Sophie Dinwiddie the first of the girls. In the Under-9, Caitlin Peirse and Joseph Hazelhurst claimed the Hopper medallions.
Attention now turns to the road, with the speed merchants getting their chance to shine at the Whitlaw Cup races next week.