RUNNING: Hot, dry conditions greeted the 50 participants in the 2005 27k Turakina Road Race on Saturday. This year was the second time that the new loop course from Turakina was used and numbers held up well.
The biggest difference was the drop in the number of individual competitors with the
teams option proving very popular. This change can be best answered by a number of people holding back for the Masters Games.
The Ben Nevis Trophy for overall handicap honours went to Wanganui's Margaret McBeth, who had to hold off the ultra-consistent Ken Thomas (also from Wanganui). This is McBeth's second victory in the race, having won also back in 1999.
In third place was evergreen Francis Wilson from Marton who has competed in this event at least on 30 occasions. Neil Mayo had finished third across the line but was too far inside his handicap time to be eligible for a podium finish.
The St Andrew's Shield for the fastest time was handed to Wanganui's Aaron White who completed the 27km in 1:42:57. The walkers were headed home by Palmerston North's Evan Davies who also recorded fastest walk time of 3:15:43.
Wanganui's Pat Carter was second ahead of Taihape's Lisa Meadows. Delwyn Sinclair was first home but like Mayo was too far inside her handicap time.
The Marton-based run team of Cat Corser, Sam Corser, Tom Corser, Jack Murphy and Mark Shand took handicap honours in the teams' run event. Wanganui's Margaret Faulkner and Diane Hay took the teams' walk event ahead of a Manawatu Striders team.
