Season gets off to a hot start

Brilliant weather set the mood for Athletic Whangarei's opening run of the winter season.
Fifty runners and walkers, ranging in age from 5 to 75, turned out for Saturday's run from the Marist Rugby club's rooms by the all-weather track.
Club president Ian Babe is confident numbers will grow as the season progresses, considering that during the previous winter/summer subscription period membership rose to 369.
"We should be able to capitalise on the numbers that came through in the summer, but there's lots of competition out there in terms of other sports.
"Some younger people will be doubling up and playing team sports in the mornings and coming to us in the afternoons - that's a really good idea - they'll have the opportunity to increase their fitness levels," he said.
A 1.7km circuit around nearby streets offered participants an easy - but hot - start to the season.Individuals chose the number of laps they wanted to complete, to a maximum of five.
Former club member Rob Lieffering appeared to be making a triumphant return with an impressive lead after one lap over stalwart performers Mike Gowing and Richard Blogg, while top-performer Ian Calder was buried well back in the field.
But as the speedsters reeled off the laps, Lieffering fell back apparently succumbing to Gowing with Blogg close behind, while Calder seemed content to trot in the middle of the field.
However Lieffering was running according to his pre-race plan.
"To do fast, slow, fast, slow.
"I've got a half-marathon next week in Opiki in the Manawatu - so I'll give that a nudge and see how I go," he explained.
Calder was also holding himself in check in readiness for forthcoming events saying the event was just the warm-up for the Wellsford to Te Hana Road Race on Sunday.
"It's all part of my plan for the Australian Masters' Championships from 21 to 24 April," he added.
Gowing took top honours winning the five laps (8.5 km) with a comfortable lead over Blogg while Lieffering trailed well back.
"It was good," Gowing said.
"I'm still carrying a bit of form from the tri season. I thought I was going to have a bit more of a tussle with Rob Lieffering, but it's good to see him back."
Amongst the women, Amanda Still ran impressively, heading off Rachyl Edge over two laps (3.4km); Janice Powell headed off Estelle Tiller, Delwyn Smith and Christine Fraser over three laps (5.1km) and Denise Limby headed off Jenna Smith over 4 laps (6.8km).
The walkers completed two laps (3.4km) with Jan Olney coming home first followed by Val Babe and Beth McLeod walking together and Akiko Hashimoto and Aya Yamagami also walking together.
To conclude the day, Ian Babe gave an inspirational talk about how he prepared for the 1987 World Masters' Championships in Melbourne where he won two world titles and set a world record.