Downpour greets runners and walkers

A TORRENTIAL downpour delayed the start of the Bush Harrier Club half-marathon and 10km fun run-walk events on Saturday with the start area resembling a lake for a short period of time.
Walkers and runners were buffeted by strong winds and heavy showers during the event but that did not stop the half-marathon run from providing an exciting finish with just 19secs separating the first three across the line.
Results:-
Half-marathon run: Open men: Andrew Davenport (Bush Harriers) 1.16.23 1, John Mudgway (Bush) 1.16.32 2, Stephen Hannam (Masterton) 1.23.29 3. Open women: Heidi Fincham 1.48.54 1, Rachelle Richardson 1.57.19 2. Men 40-49yrs: Tony Price (Masterton) 1.16.42 1, Mark Eagle 1.20.40 2, Robert Dabb (Feilding Moa) 1.24.44 3. Men 50-59yrs: Kevin Barrett 1.39.27 1, Mark Thompson (Feilding Moa) 1.48.52 2, Greg Thomson (Manawatu Striders) 1.54.30 3. Men over 60yrs: Rob Ruffe-Thomas (Bush) 1.50.35 1, Bob Pink (Manawatu Striders) 2.01.53 2, Ray Wallis (Athletics Carterton) 2.02.06 3. Women 35-44yrs: Linda Hannam (Masterton) 1.36.42 1, Kate Cooper 1.38.50 2, Jess Shelgren (Bush) 2.08.12 3. Women 45-54yrs: Marie Cooksley 1.49.42 1, Bronwyn Johnson (Masterton) 1.50.50 2. Women over 55yrs: Marian Hilder (Manawatu Striders) 1.48.01 1.
Half-marathon walk: Men: Robert Radley 2.05.51 1, Ian Bailey 2.15.56 2, Evan Davies 2.20.58 3. Women: Darryl James (Manawatu Striders) 2.24.54 1, Jane Tylee 2.26.37 2, Sharon Wright (Manawatu Striders) 2.29.45 3.
10km fun run: Ross Rainham 39.43 1, Roger Jones 45.18 2, Wendy Gatward 48.23 3, Angela Rainham 48.53 4, Jason Arends 50.23, 5, Richard Moore 51.00 6.
Athletics Carterton had better luck with the weather for their run-walk at Fensham Reserve although the gusty winds did test the stamina of the participants. Results:
8km run: Richard Southey 35.31, John Sage 35.50, Craig Bird 36.26, Craig Ewing 38.13, Thomas Westgarth 38.32, Steve Britland 40.00, Susan Southey 46.19.
4km run: Barry Saville 25.06, Donna Edge 25.07.
4km walk: Ali Lang 30.16, Sandra Saville 37.50, Melissa Saville 37.52.
Saturday, April 15 will see the Carterton group tackle a run-walk from the Mount Holdsworth car park with the older runners traversing the Ataiwhakatu track and walkers and younger runs doing a loop through Donnelly's flat. This will be a non-competitive event so everyone can enjoy the bush surroundings.