Takapuna Harriers' Andrew Kilding dominated this year's Wilkinson Trophy despite missing the first turn-around and adding an extra 1.6km to the 10km run, held at Kaipara Flats on Saturday.
A misunderstanding in the Wellsford Road Runners' otherwise thorough organisation left competitors without directions at the first turn-round, resulting in most runners
missing the turn and running extra distance.
Kilding, who also won the Wilkinson trophy last year, arrived back from a holiday in England on Saturday morning and, after rushing to Kaipara Flats for the 12.15pm start, was untroubled by the absence of directions and the additional distance.
"I enjoyed the course, but I just missed the first turn-point and we ended up going about an extra kilometre, making the course 11.6km according to somebody's GPS," Kilding said.
The victor did admit to suffering from jet-lag.
Kaipara Flats, the location of the event, bellied the true nature of the course, with 7km out and back over undulating hills, followed by a final sting in the tail - 3km out and back over a steep hill.
Nick Sotherlaid, also from Takapuna Harriers, finished second, over three minutes behind Kilding, with Hatea Harriers' Jason Trass in third.
Pakuranga's Mikki Williden, competing in the Wilkinson 10km for the first time, took the women's trophy, but had expected the final 3km to be tougher.
"It wasn't as bad as I had thought. My friends had talked it (the final hill) up, so I imagined it was going to be much worse - it was quite good actually, but it (the 10km) was still hard," Williden said.
Athletics Whangarei's Simone Ackermann finished second overall in the combined women's field despite having completed a rigorous triathlon workout in the morning. But she was awarded first place in the under-20 women's grade
Helen Kilding, Andrew's wife, secured second place in the women's race.
Whangarei's Travis Connelly scored an impressive win in the under-16 grade 3km run - out and back over the steep hill - in an excellent time of 10min 36sec.
