Trail race turnout soars

A bigger field than last year is already guaranteed for the Jumbo Holdsworth trail races at Mount Holdsworth tomorrow.
Organiser Liz Nicholson reported yesterday that between the main event over 24km and the Hooper Loop over 12km 130 entries had been received - well up on the 112 participating in 2010.
And if past history was anything to go by, a significant number of athletes would enter on the day, as national mountain running representative James Coubrough did when he clocked 2h 22m 29s for the 24km 12 months ago, slower than the record 2h 16m 8s he returned in 2008.
Nicholson had "absolutely no idea" whether Coubrough would make it to the starting line tomorrow but she had no doubts that if he did he would again take a power of beating. "He's got that happy mix of speed and stamina. He'd be the clear favourite, no doubt about that."
In Coubrough's absence, the question over who will achieve fastest-time honours would be far more clouded, with Nicholson suggesting two entrants who have made a name for themselves in orienteering, Aucklander James Bradshaw and Bryn Davies from the Hutt, as leading contenders.
"They have both been in the top 10 before so I guess they have the form on the board," she said.
Of the women racing over the 24km, the spotlight will fall on Auckland veteran Billie Marshall, whose 3h 22m 59s was the quickest time recorded by a female last year. She has, however, been struggling with injury of late.
A notable entrant in the Hooper Loop is Eketahuna's Ralph Thomas, 74, who is likely to be the oldest competitor competing in the Holdsworth Jumbo trail races this year.