NEW ZEALAND LONG DISTANCE WALKS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The NZ Long Distance Walks Championships were held on the Raymond Road circuit in Hamilton today.

The weather wasn’t great, drizzle for much of the time, but fine periods. The wind increased throughout the day. The drizzle became a real downpour in the final laps of the 50km race, but then cleared to a clear blue sky while the course was being dismantled.

Small fields, with five starters in the Open 50km Race (all men) this year. No junior Men, and fewer Masters Women than in other years.

The two Senior Men, Tony Sargisson (#380) and Graeme Jones (#381) walked the entire race together, never separated by more than a few metres, and finished together, although the judges awarded first place to Graeme Jones. The photo below was actually taken a couple of hours into the race, but in reality could have been taken at any stage. Tony might look a little grim in this shot, but they were happily chatting most of the way.

Others to share the pace for much of the race were Peter Baillie (more or less recovered from his recent 24 hour race) and Roger Denton who was attempting the distance for the first time.

Results:

Athletics NZ Open 50km Championship

1          Graeme Jones                    4:43:30

2          Tony Sargisson                4:43:30

NZ Masters Men’s 50km Championships

M55-59          

1          Peter Baillie               5:40:29

2          Roger Denton             5:49:58

M50-54

-           Eric Kemsley                       DQ

NZ Masters Women's 20km Championships

W35-39

1        Kristeene Parkes        2:30:13

W40-44

1        Gillian MacDougal    2:04:34

W50-54

1        Sharon McDonald    2:09:18

Athletics NZ Senior Women’s 15km Championship

1            Gabrielle Gorst             1:15:08

2          Wendy Healey              1:33:10

Athletics NZ W19 15km Championship

1            Amanda Gorst             1:20:13

2            Catalina Malone            1:30:59

Athletics NZ W16 10km Championship

1          Kelly Mabbett                       61:41

 Jack Tregurtha

"Race Walking is to regular walking as Stopwatch is to Sundial."