88 -year-old harrier event on last legs

A long-standing interclub harriers event will be hosted by the Ruamahanga Ramblers at Clareville Showgrounds on Saturday.

The Sanders-Gough Trophy competition started in 1924 and is open to all clubs in the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa regions.

Ramblers spokesman Ray Wallis admits the turnout has dropped during the past decade to the point where this could be the last time it is hosted in Wairarapa.

"It really comes down to how much support we get this coming weekend. If numbers are poor, then its future here could be in big jeopardy," Wallis said.

The Clareville course will be the same as that used for the 2001 New Zealand cross-country championships. The programme will get under way at 1.30pm with the men's and women's walks over 6km and the under-12 boys' and girls' runs over 2km. The under-14 boys' and girls' (3km) start at 1.45pm, the under-16 boys and girls (4km) at 2.10pm, and the under-20 men's and women's (6km), open and Masters women's (6km) and open and Masters men's (6km), all at 2.40pm. Clubs likely to be represented are Hutt Valley, Trentham United, Wainuiomata, Aurora, Rimutaka, Hutt Valley Marathon Clinic, Masterton and Ruamahanga Ramblers.

Meanwhile, wetsuits were almost needed when the Ramblers held an event over the tracks and boardwalks at Carter's Reserve last Saturday. Hugh Taylor was fastest over the three laps and just 1 second separated Matthew Furkert and Tom Parker in the one lap race.

Results:

1.8km: Matthew Furkert 9.57, Tom Parks 9.58, Jack Britland 11.21, Oliver Hammond 11.30, Sarah Pitney 20.49.

3.7km: Marshall Pitney 22.08, Steven Yeats 22.38, Ali Lang 38.16.

4.5km: Rob Hammond 21.53, Steve Pitney 30.27.

5.55km: Hugh Taylor 27.55, Paul Furkert 28.46, John Sage 29.08, Malcolm McDonald 29.28, Michael Duthie 29.42, Steve Britland 30.55, Ray Haste 31.25, Greg Lang 32.32, Rupert Watson 34.32, Wayne Hyman 36.47, Martin Parker 36.57, Lee Tanner 40.14, Wendy Wills 42.39, Claudia Baechie 46.36.