One second separates six in open race

Ramblers

It was a good night for the handicapper when the Ruamahanga Ramblers held an open handicap race from Parkvale Hall on Tuesday night.

Six runners in the 5km event finished within one second of each other, a situation which kept 84-year-old timekeeper Eric Lowery and his assistant Esther Lang on their toes.

Walker Cath Wedderburn recorded a personal best time in staving off the charging Steve Edge while Marshall Pitney demonstrated his enthusiasm by first contesting the 2km run and then running the 5km.

Having his first outing with the Ramblers was Masterton's Michael Macklin and his time of 18min 12s represented the fastest 5km ever recorded at an event held by the club.

Hugh Taylor continued his improvement, having broken the 20-minute mark for 5km earlier in this season he now looks set to break 19 minutes in the near future.

Next week's race is a pack walk/run, starting from the bike park on Brooklyn Rd at 6.15pm.

Results in order of handicap and actual times are:

2km: Fergus Pitney 25.32, 11.22; Donna Saywell 26.15, 25.15; Kasey Cox 34.51, 11.01; Julia Parker 35.22, 12.32; Jack Britland 35.36, 9.06; Tom Parker 35.26, 9.06; Jessie Parker 37.42, 14.22; Stephanie Young 38.21, 22.11; Wendy Taylor 38.21, 22.11.

5km run: Linda Sage 39.45, 37.45; Ben Saywell 42.38, 23.18; Kathy Davies 42.40, 30.40; Ben Bailey 43.10, 24.00; William Horsburgh 43.18, 25.38; Steve Pitney 43.22, 26.22; Kate Gay 43.24, 30.54; Michael Macklin 43.32, 18.12; Tessa Southey 43.44, 25.54; Teresa Reynolds 43.54, 24.04; Nicholas Bailey 43.55, 21.15; Susan Southey 44.11, 27.01; Greg Lang 44.23, 21.43; Wayne Hyman 44.27, 25.17; Steve Britland 44.28, 21.48; Lesley Graham 44.28, 22.08; Paul Furkert 44.28, 19.38; Hugh Taylor 44.28, 19.08; Katherine Horsburgh 44.28, 22.48; Ray Wallis 44.26, 27.26; Malcolm McDonald 45.08, 20.48; Michael Duthie 45.36, 22.36; Ray Haste 45.39, 21.39; Marshall Pitney (7km) 47.21, 39.01.

5km walk: Cath Wedderburn 43.49, 35.39; Steve Edge 44.10, 32.50; Linda Fairbrother 45.39, 45.39; Irene Price 45.39, 45.39; John Ihaka 45.45, 36.05; Clarissa Price 50.00, 50.00, Wendy Burkhart 50.00, 50.00.