Macklin home well ahead of rivals

Rambling

Michael Macklin set the fastest time over the 5.9km course when the Ruamahanga Ramblers held an event over the Greytown rail trail this week.

Macklin clocked 21min 12s to finish two minutes ahead of Hugh Taylor while Michael Hyman was quickest over the shorter 2km course.

Course setter Paul Furkert worked out the 2.5km turning point on the trail using the satellite imagery from Google maps but when the times recorded were slow for 5km it was found the pine trees used for that turn had recently been cut down. So the athletes had gone to the next set of trees 600m further on.

Steve Britland won full marks for timing. Arriving late he jogged to the start and reached there just as starter Eric Lowery said "Go".

Former Aucklanders Dean and Jean McDougall came on their second outing with the Ramblers keen to see more of Wairarapa. Their first appearance took them past the Carterton dump, this time the event started beside the Greytown dump!

Results, in order of handicap time and actual time:

2km: Irene Price 20.34, 20.34; Michael Hyman 23.34, 8.34; Donna Saywell 24.03, 14.03; Abby Saywell 24.10, 14.10; Andrew Hyman 24.28, 9.28; Tracy Duthie 24.30, 24.30; Wendy Taylor 24.30, 24.30; Samantha Duthie 24.45, 9.45; William Horsburgh 24.49, 9.49; Jessica Duthie 25.40, 10.40; Zac Vainu 25.51, 10.51; Olivia Horsburgh 25.57, 10.57; Kasey Cox 26.55, 11.55; Tobia Dale 29.21, 14.21; Kayleigh Horsburgh 30.10, 15.10.

5.9km: Michael Macklin 36.12, 21.12; Hugh Taylor 38.12, 23.12; Ben Saywell 38.46, 28.46; Teresa Reynolds 38.55, 28.55; Lesley Graham 39.56, 29.56; Paul Furkert 40.12, 25.12; Tessa Southey 40.33, 30.33; Steve Britland 40.40, 25.40; Wayne Hyman 40.54, 30.54; Ray Haste 41.09, 26.09; Susan Southey 41.51, 31.51; Craig Bird 41.58, 26.58; Nicholas Bailey 42.06, 27.06; Katherine Horsburgh 42.29, 27.29; Greg Lang 42.40, 27.40; Matthew Furkert 44.30, 34.30; Ray Wallis 44.43, 34.43; Dean McDougall 45.54, 35.54; Jeremy Senior 46.10, 31.10; Kathy Davies 47.10, 37.10; Kate Gay 47.41, 37.41.

5.9km walkers: John Ihaka 50.15, 50.15; Linda Fairbrother 53.55, 53.55; Steve Edge 53.55, 53.55; Jane McDougall 57.35, 57.35; Maxine Bird 61.53, 61.53; Clarissa Price 61.54, 61.54.