Striding out on relay run

The last group of competitors in the running teams depart Marton Park at 9.30am on Saturday

Another strong field of 36 teams and 10 tough individual runners tackled the 85th edition of the Wanganui Harrier Club's Marton to Whanganui Relay in good conditions on Saturday morning.

Starting at Marton Park and winding 66.3km through the back country before arriving in town at the Wanganui East Club, the first home this year was the two-person team of WCC Duo - City College's Des Lynch and Gareth Wright - followed by the Peka Heads who are previous Mountain to Sea challenge winners Bruce Baldwin and son-in-law Ashley Christie, finishing just 42 seconds later.

Third place went to multisporters Jenny Langrish and Clint Black.

In the composite race - for teams consisting of both runners and walkers - the Bush Harriers club took out a quinella, as the Revivers team just headed home the Survivors by 2m 20s, while Whanganui's Revitalise gym team were third.

The running relay saw first place go to Hawera Harriers in the fastest time of the day - 4h 27m 11s.

Second was the Wanganui Harrier's men's team (4m 29m 53s) with Feilding Moa Men rounding out the top 3.

WHC spokesman Bill Charnock said Al's Mob from the Manawatu Striders finally managed to win the walking relay in their 14th attempt, beating perennial favourites Taranaki Race Walkers by almost 12 minutes.

The Trentham Harriers walk team chased the Taranaki team all the way to town, finishing third by only 41s.

In the individual race, Antonia Johnson was the winner, having come out to compete while on a visit home from Edinburgh.

She completed the course in 7h 8m 6s, around 12 minutes ahead of Scott Thompson with Carl Laffan in third.

"Mention must be made of Perry Newburn from Feilding and Wellington's Marcelo Vanzuita who both completed a 'double running' of the event," said Charnock.

"Starting late Friday and running through the night to arrive in Marton in time to have a short rest and head back to Whanganui with the rest of the field.

"Perry is no stranger to extra long distances, having run across the USA, while Marcelo is training for a 700km event in Alaska early in 2017."

In the Under 20 relay, staged over the 26.76km in the last four legs of the full event, the first home were Big Juniors Wanganui in 1h 44m 5s.

Wanganui Junior Rockets came second followed by Manawatu Striders Juniors.

Results

Individual: 1. Antonia Johnson (6:08.06); 2. Scott Thompson; 3. Carl Laffan; 4. Albie Jane; 5. Mike Hos.

Two Person Teams: 1. WCC Duo (5:42.20); 2. Peka Heads; 3. Jenny Langrish & Clint Black.

Composite Teams: 1. Bush Revivers (6:36.02); 2. Bush Survivors; 3. Revitalise.

Running Teams: 1. Hawera (4:27.11); 2. WHC Men; 3. Moa Men; 4. Rangitikei College Mixed Creed; 5. Trentham Terminators.

Walking Teams: 1. Striders Als Mob (7:33.41); 2. TRWC; 3. Trentham Walkers; 4. Walk 4 Health 5 Ageless; 5. Striders Beauty and the Beast.

Junior Teams: 1. Big Juniors Wanganui (1:44.05); 2. Wanganui Junior Rockets; 3. Manawatu Junior Striders.