Good numbers cross the bridges

Bridget Fry greets supporters at the finish line.

The final results of the Pak'n Save Whanganui 3 Bridges Marathon have been made available.

Organisers were able to attract around 538 runners and walkers to this year's event, slightly up on 2015, which included 462 individual entries and 19 teams of four who entered the first ever relays.

Rotorua's ultramarathon veteran Brendon Keenan easily won the full marathon, with club mate Bruce Edwards arriving at the finish just over 20 minutes behind him, a further 13 minutes ahead of third placed Joe Ready.

Alyssa Lelievre helping Danielle Lelievre to finish the team relay at the line.

First woman home was Lea Arnaud in just over 3h 44m, over 13 minutes ahead of runnerup Barb Carson, with Cailey Mills coming in shortly behind her.

The full marathon walk winners were Malcolm Gray and Vicki Adlam respectively.

In the first ever corporate relay, the women's walking race was won by team My Kind of Balance, while the mixed grade was taken out by Nevabean.

The run relay saw Premature Acceleration win the mixed race.

RESULTS

Full Marathon
Walk - Men: 1. Malcolm Gray, 5:35.01; 2. Phil Kirk; 3. Dennis Jordan. Women: 1. Vicki Adlam, 5:11.19; 2. Chris Maxwell; 3. Raelene Barlow.
Run - Men: 1. Brendon Keenan, 2:56.35; 2. Bruce Edwards; 3. Joe Ready; 4. Euan Beattie; 5. Steve Bottcher. Women: 1. Lea Arnaud, 3:44.58; 2. Barb Carson; 3. Cailey Mills; 4. Amelia Horne; 5. Nicky Scott.

Half Marathon
Walk - Men: 1. Harry Terwiel, 2:11.36; 2. Alan Clarke; 3. Derren Hutchinson. Women: 1. Sherryn Hardy, 2:28.44; 2. Tina Cook; 3. Heather Yalden.
Run - Men: 1. Tom Francis, 1:26.54; 2. Brad Thompson; 3. Adam Holmes; 4. Garrick Stephenson; 5. Liam Jones. Women: 1. Esther George, 1:35.18; 2. Renae Creser; 3. Paula Lawrence; 4. Amber Ward; 5. Wilma Minnee.

Corporate Relay
Walk - Women: 1. Balance Chartered Accountants - My Kind of Balance, 2:55.07; 2. Jigsaw Whanganui 2; 3. Jandal Sisters. Mixed: 1. Nevabean, 2:21.14; 2. Wanganui Chronicle; 3. Balance Chartered Accountants - Balance of Power.
Run - Women: 1. Te Oranganui, 2:38.52. Mixed: 1. Premature Acceleration, 1:44.06; 2. Suzuki Swifts; 3. Pak 'n Save Stickmen.

10km
Walk - Men: 1. Michael Mudgway, 1:14.34; 2. David Cushing; 3. Dean Harrison. Women: 1. Jean de Vries, 1:23.52; 2. Bridie Fleming; 3. Tina Redpath.
Run - 1. Peter Baksh, 37.03; 2. Tom Poole; 3. Jason Daws; 4. Paul Nesbitt; 5. Richard Ashley. Women: 1. Daisy Till-Carty, 52.30; 2. Sonja Petersen; 3. Charlotte Symes; 4. Sophie Atkinson; 5. Anna Gregory.

5km
Walk - Men: 1. Martin Lightband, 43.37; 2. Mike Foulaton; 3. BC Bloor. Women: 1. Jo Hutchinson, 42.29; 2. Maureen Foulston; 3. Sandra Woodhead.
Run - Men: 1. Aaron Akkerman, 20.19; 2. Max Bell; 3. Robert Dabb. Women: 1. Jessica Johnstone, 23.45; 2. Sue Staples; 3. Joanne Merson.

Marton's Francis Wilson, who has competed in racing for over 50 years, digging in near Taupo Quay.