Marton to Wanganui Relay - Al's Mob

Al's Mob enjoyed a sodden day for their 15th time in the Marton-Wanganui relay, however it is the first time that we have encountered such bad weather.    We had a good day out starting off in third place where we remained until leg 9 where Denises gutsy effort put us in 2nd place where we remained.    We were the meat ina Taranaki Race Walking sandwich with only 4 minutes separating the first three teams - great to have some competition all the way.      Everyone in our team put in maximum effort under not so good conditions and we all very much enjoyed our dry clothes and a couple of drinks at Wanganui East Club at the finish.    Striders got a fair share of the spot prizes in a well organized and enjoyable event.      Well done Beauties and the Beasts too - hopefully we'll all be back next year with better weather!!!

 

Striders Gazelles

The Striders Gazelles travelled to Halcombe on a balmy Palmy day to partake in this year’s Halcombe Relay. Our composite team had four walkers (Rachelle Cocker, Sharon Wright, Paul Jurgeleit and Nicole Patterson) and two runners (Lee Anne Hannan and Cath Staines). We weren’t there to break any records, but had a great day out with lots of laughs along the way! The whole team did well with Lee Anne deserving special mention since her actual time was significantly better than estimated – well done Lee Anne! The day was rounded off with the prize giving and another great afternoon tea before all returned home.

 

Halcombe.jpg

Happy Stridors and the Halcombe Relay

Saturday August 5th the team "Happy Stridors" consisting of Christine Wick, Karen Yule, Lynda Hartley, Lyn Honner, Val Holden and Liz Hanson took part in the Walkers Relay

What a glorious spring day we all met up at Bob and Barbaras at the pre arranged time then car pooled out to Halcombe where we walked to warm up and then to have our team photos taken by Bob and Barbara. Other teams arrived in drifts and drabs and then we had our pre event address by Robb Dabb organisor and given our start times and a safety debrief .

It was good to see teams from other regions eg Taranaki and Wanganui  taking part

Liz and Kevin were the first from the Stridors Teams to start at 1115 hrs along with two women from a Taranaki team in the walkers section according to the handicap times

One couldn't have wished for better walking conditionsthe sun was shining clear blue sky minimal breeze and spectacular countryside scenery with snow covered mountains in the background

Three of us completed our individual laps a bit quicker than the estimated time but the other three did well to come close to their estimated times .  Total time to complete the relay circuit 4 hours 15 minutes

Lynda and Karen joined our team this year a first appearance for Lyndalap time 39minutes 44 seconds and Karen joined our team for the first time lap time 45minutes 58 seconds

We all had fun plus some unplanned entertainment when Val unwittingly drove too far off the side of the road and got stuck in the boggy grass. With help from the "girls" and "boys" from "Bobs Mob" pushed her out to terrafirma amongst a lot of amused looks and laughter

Many thanks to Bob and Barbara Hartnell for all their help and organization and for being our team photographers plus support team on the day

Special thanks to Robb Dabb and Feilding Moa Harriers for putting on such a wonderful event and for providing the refreshments at the end of the day which always goes down a treat

Thank you to the Stridors Committee for providing each team with a grant to assist with covering costs incurred

To the" Happy Stridors" Team a huge thank you for being such good sports and helping to make it a fun wonderful day

Liz Hanson"Happy Stridors" team member 2017

Harriers shines at Halcombe Relay!

The Halcombe Relay on Saturday was a fantastic success and a real credit to the Feilding Moa Club for the manner in which it was organised. Many of our participants including some of the Parents,   rated this event as their highlight of the year so far.

Our Club entered two junior running teams into the relay, with the addition of Toshi Nakanishi who kindly did 2 legs for his team.

Almost without exception our Juniors bettered their estimated times.

So well done to all.

I think coming off a cross country season, supported by Chris's coaching and previous racing experience is starting to show in the ongoing improvements being shown by our younger club members.

In conclusion I would just like to thank the support and help provided by the Juniors  Parents on Saturday. And thanks to Jeff Cruickshank for managing one of the teams.

Well done everybody.  

Results are posted on our Results page

Alister Martin

15th July Manawatu/Wanganui Cross Country Championships

Congratulations to all those who took part in the Manawatu/Wanganui Cross Country Championships held in Wanganui last Saturday.

It was a very well organised event with fine conditions overhead, but very heavy underfoot conditions.

Special congratulations go to the Robinson Family, with all 4 members of their family who took part gaining a place.

Cooper finished 1st in his grade, while Greer, Alia and Kelda all finished 3rd in their Grades.

A fantastic effort!

Well done also to Josh Zentveld who finished 3rd in his Grade.

Harriers Drop-off Relay Mangaone Park

"Drop-off Relay" held on Saturday at Mangaone Park.

Results

A Short "pairs" relay was also run so most participants competed in 2 relays.

Results were not kept for the Short "pairs relay"

The "Drop -off Relay" consisted of random teams of 4. Teams were mixed ie young, old, female, male, runner,walker. Feilding Moa, Strider, all mixed into different teams 

Each team stayed together for Lap 1, dropped off one of their team (usually the slowest) after 1 Lap and continued etc until there was only 1 left competing in the team.

Meaning that the last team member would have covered about 8kms or 4 laps of the approx 2km course.

Although the conditions were quite wet I am sure that the 60 odd people who turned up and took part thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Just a gentle reminder that Harriers are held on Saturday afternoons  irrespective of whether its fine, wet or hail!

I have had a couple of Parents say that they thought Saturday would have been cancelled due to the wet conditions.

A special welcome to Feilding Moa and thanks to Rob Dabb from Moa for organising the teams and the course.

Coaching  

Don't forget Coaching for Junior Members with Chris Sanson,  is on again at our clubrooms this Wednesday at 4pm.

Harriers this Saturday

This Saturday a Pack Run/Walk with Feilding Moa held at the Ashhurst Domain is being organised. 1.30pm. More about that later in the week.

 

Alister Martin

Club Captain-Manawatu Striders Harriers

Harriers Report - Valley Road Colyton, 17th June

It was great to see some of our club members taking part in the Feilding Moa 2017 Vautier Cups-Sealed Handicap Cross Country Run Walk at Valley Road Colyton, on Saturday.

See Results attached

A sealed handicap event is where everyone starts together and has their time adjusted according to their handicap at the finish.

Only the "Handicapper" is aware of the participants handicaps at the start of the event and these are only revealed after the race is complete.

It is the type of Harriers Event that I am keen to see take place within our club in the future and when we become more established as a Group and we have more race stats to call upon then I feel sure that this will evolve.

Thanks to Feilding Moa for their invite and fantastic hospitality.

Great to have 2 consecutive fine Saturdays using a woolshed as a base!

Well done to Greer Robinson (competing in the Mini Moas) and to Jack Conley who both placed "across the line" in their junior grades.

Also congrats to Christine Wick for being 1st Female Walker.


Perry Newburn T Shirt

On Saturday at the afternoon tea function  held in the woolshed, I presented Jack Conley (Boys U/14) with a T Shirt that was worn by Perry Newburn during his famous run from  New York to Los Angeles, a distance of about 5,000 kilometres.

Perry has kindly donated this shirt to our club and had some words of wisdom and inspiration for Jack  when the 2 met up with each other for a chat on Saturday.   

(Incidentally Perry is hoping to break Siegfried (Siggy) Bauer's record of running the length of New Zealand.

The current record id 18 days and Perry is planning to do his run in September.)

Jack gets to keep the Shirt for one week and can wear it, take it to school, show his mates etc but must bring it back to Harriers the following Saturday where it will be awarded to another Striders Harrier. The decision on who is awarded the shirt will be made in discussion  with Parents and may not necessarily be for an outstanding performance ie it could be awarded to someone who has displayed good sportsmanship, or done something of note during the week ie at Chris Sanson's coaching etc.

Coaching with Chris

Don't forget coaching with Chris is held every Wednesday night at 4pm at our clubrooms. It is free for all Junior Harrier Members and intending Junior Harriers Members  and will continue for the duration of the Harriers season.

Next up

This Saturday (24th June 1.30pm) Cross Country Relays at Mangaone Park.1.30pm.
An email will be forwarded to you later in the week with Event info for this Saturday.

We are hosting Feilding Moa and hope to have some Harrier members from Palmerston North Club take part also.

There will be 2 relay races for everyone and teams will be formed on the day with clubs mixed in with each other in the same teams.

Younger children will be well catered for.

More detail to follow in my next email.

Emphasis will be on fun, enjoyment and meeting people from other club(s)

Alister Martin Club Captain - Manawatu Striders Harriers