Masters athletes grateful for cooler conditions

MORE GOLD: Neil Mayo winning the half marathon run on Anzac Parade yesterday. 080215WCSMMASTER2

They have made a habit of standing on the dais at these Southern Trust New Zealand Masters Games, so the runners and walkers finished their event off with style at the half marathon yesterday morning.

There were 44 walkers who departed from Anzac Parade at 8am, followed by 36 runners an hour later.

Paeroa's Martin Thorpe, a veteran of six games, would lead home the men's walkers, with Wanganui runner Neil Mayo right behind him to complete his men's event.

Now so familiar with the hike around the Whanganui River and crossing the town's bridges, the walker's victory was Thorpe's sixth gold medal at these games, along with two bronze.

"It's tough at the end of the week. Good to get it finished.

"[The weather's] excellent. Couldn't have asked for better conditions."

Mayo, who had continued his dominance of the infamous staircase run up Durie Hill last Monday, had his second gold to go with a silver in the cross country.

"Just glad it was cloudy and breezy," he said.

"The breeze going out was a bit stronger than normal - it took a bit out of you - but you appreciated the cooling.

"I'm pleased considering I haven't carried through the form I had in October last year, so got to be grateful."

Wanganui's Gai-Marie Smart was the first women's walker home, while Nelda Hazelhurst won the running section.