Hatea Harriers new recruit Johnny Creelman gave them a victory over the larger Athletics Whangarei Club in the first interclub cross-country race of the season, over an undulating course at Tikipunga Park.
Seniors ran three 2.5km circuits of Saturday's wet and, in places, boggy course, while women ran two laps and
the younger runners completed one lap, with all runners starting on a handicap determined by the organisers.
Creelman, 23, started last on the back mark behind accomplished Athletic Whangarei runners Richard Blogg and Rob Osbourne.
As the race unfolded, he swept past the Whangarei pair and others, taking honours for the fastest time for the 7.5km.
To date Creelman, who came to Whangarei from Christchurch last November, has run as a means of relaxation rather than competitively.
"I generally run as a bit of a pastime after work and that kind of thing - and if I have a bad day, it helps me think things through,"he said.
Despite completing a 20km run on Saturday morning, Creelman ran strongly throughout the 7.5 km race in the afternoon, although he did admit to feeling some strain.
"It [the 7.5km race] was good it was pretty tiring I'm not used to running in a wet paddock with a bit of mud around but it was enjoyable," he said.
Whangarei's 73-year-old Ian Douglas made the most of his handicap, to be first across the line in the senior men's race.
"It's just a matter of keeping an even pace and hanging on," he said.
"It's a really good course. Being older, I find that it takes me a lap to get going and then I get into a pace and hang on," he added.
In the women's race, back-marker Imogen Hull strode out impressively over two laps (5km) passing runners as she went and taking out fastest time in close to 21 minutes.
