From the President's Desk - July 2026

Kia ora Striders,

Welcome to the first edition of our monthly Email from the President's Desk.

This update is intended to replace the club's previous newsletter format and provide a regular opportunity to share what has been happening around the club, celebrate the achievements of our members, and highlight upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.

I hope everyone is enjoying the winter running and walking season. It's been great seeing so many of you at our Tuesday and Sunday club sessions, as well as at other regular events, runs and walks around the region.

It's also been fantastic to see such strong Striders representation at events over the past couple of months. Some of the highlights include:

28 June - Wellington Marathon

The Striders who braved the cool weather achieved some amazing results in Wellington!

David Jones placed 3rd overall in the Marathon Walk, crossing the line in 5:21:34.
David Cushing completed the Marathon Walk in 5:50:32, achieving 8th place and 2nd in his division.
Sharon Wright placed 2nd overall in the Women's 10km Walk, finishing in 1:13:38.
Ali Muhammad broke the 40-minute barrier for the first time, recording a personal best 39:09 in the 10km.
Cat Hay achieved a sub-45 minute 10km with 44:43, while also claiming 1st in her division.
Jane Rattray earned 3rd in her division in the Half Marathon Walk with a time of 2:57:32.
Penny Harris added another podium finish, placing 2nd in her division in the 10km Walk in 1:29:13.

5 July - Gold Coast Marathon

A huge congratulations to Sarin Yin, who crossed the ditch and completed her first marathon. What an incredible achievement after all those months of training, and I'm sure it was made even more special by having your family there to support you.
Congratulations also to Lee Radich, who travelled to the Gold Coast and continued her amazing marathon journey. We're proud to see Striders represented on both sides of the Tasman.

10 July - Anderson Rally, Dannevirke

Penny Harris claimed 1st place in the Walkers category.
Jon Clearwater finished 2nd in the Men's Masters category.

18 July - Manawatū-Whanganui Cross Country Championships

Hannah Lewis finished 3rd in the Women's Senior grade.
Cath Staines finished 3rd in her division

Apologies if I've missed any notable performances or achievements. One of the goals of these monthly updates is to celebrate the successes of our members, so please feel free to share any results, milestones, or stories that we can celebrate together as a club!

Looking ahead, there are plenty of events coming up:

Taupō Marathon - Saturday 1 August

We have a number of Striders heading away for this iconic event. Best of luck to everyone competing across the various distances.

Athletics Manawatū Whanganui Road Race Championships - Saturday 15 August

This is another opportunity to put on the Striders colours and enjoy a day alongside runners and walkers from around the region. Whether you're participating or simply coming along to support runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, we'd love to see a few Striders there.

Halcombe Relays - Saturday 22 August

One of the highlights of the regional calendar and always a fantastic day out. We're keen to get as many Striders teams involved as possible, so if you'd like to be part of a team, let us know. Alternatively, if you've already got a team organised, we'd love to hear from you so we can see how many Striders teams we'll have on the start line.

Mount Maunganui Half Marathon - Saturday 29 August

We know a number of Striders regularly make the trip to the Mount for this event. If you're planning on heading up for it, we'd love to hear about it so that we can cheer you on!

Te Āpiti Traverse - Saturday 19 September

It is exciting to see a new event added to the local calendar and we encourage members to get involved if they can.

New Zealand Road Relays - Saturday 3 October

With the championships being held in Halcombe this year, this is a fantastic opportunity for Striders to compete on a national stage.

Stride into Spring - Sunday 4 October

Our annual spring event is one of the club's key community events. Whether you're planning to participate or volunteer, we'd love your support to help make the day a success. More information on volunteer opportunities will be shared in the near future.

Thank you to everyone who continues to make Manawatu Striders such a welcoming, supportive, and active club. Whether you're chasing a podium finish, a personal best, or simply enjoying time on your feet with others, you're helping make our club what it is.

I look forward to seeing you out and about over the coming weeks.

Ngā mihi,

Matt Duxfield
President