Sun out for Country2Coast

The sun shone on the Country2Coast yesterday. PHOTO / WARREN BUCKLAND

Perfect weather made for a perfect day for almost 1000 people on the Country2Coast run/walk event yesterday.

They converged smiling on Clive's Farndon Park from three directions: Napier, Haumoana and Puketapu.

Participants could choose from an 8km or 15km walk/run or a more challenging 20km dash.

Walkers left from Haumoana and Napier at 8.30am and runners 9.30am.

The 20km Hillmac Electrical Dash was held for the first time in the event's six years, to accommodate the more competitive runners. More than 80 people, and a dog, departed the Puketapu Tavern for the Tutaekuri River run. The real pace was at Black Bridge however, where three runners arrived before the marshall, who saw them "bounding" up the Tukituki River track instead of crossing the bridge, event manager Kevin Longman said.

They were intercepted at the next road and driven back to the course. Halfway from Haumoana, five looped songs blaring from a backpack kept Lisa Everden, and Janie Anderson and daughter Trudy motivated.

Lisa travelled from Putaruru for the event.

Travelling along Marine Parade with neighbours and friends was Karen McGrail of Bay View.

She said she entered the walk for the exercise, to enjoy the company of friends and support a good cause. Money raised is going towards the relief effort in Vanuatu.

Approaching Awatoto were husband and wife team Martin and Jocelyn Moore.

"We did the Mega 28km walk last November and we thought we'd do a little conditioning before we walked 28k again," she said.

It was also competitive between the top runners in the 20km dash.

Graeme Buscke made short work of the course, finishing in just 1 hour 19 minutes 11 seconds - close on his heels was Steve Charles in 1hr 19m 13s. The first woman home was Karen Toulmin in 1hr 22min 13s - Sarah Portas was second in 1hr 34min 14sec.

David Filton had the quickest 15km run in 1hr 2m 44s with Rachael Rautahi the fastest woman in 1hr 8m 36s. The fastest men and women walkers were Paul Reeve in 1h 41m 26s and Grace Taylor 1hr 49m 36s.

Cameron Potts was the first man home in the 8km run in 44m 20s with Alison Palmer 44m 27s.

Paddy Pearson was the first man to walk across the line in 41m 42s while Samantha Waugh was the first woman in 59m 46s.

Full results: http://www.country2coast.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/results-in-order-of-finishing-c2c-2015.pdf