Training for rugby help to Furkert

Athletics

Pre-season rugby training is obviously paying off for Aidan Furkert, winner of the 2km handicap race when the Ruamahanga Ramblers staged an event from Parkvale Hall on Tuesday night.

Another runner to show sharp improvement was Malcolm Swanson, who was first home on handicap over 5km in a time that was a personal best by two minutes.

The individual highlight, however, was the effort of Ben Winder, who set a Ramblers record for 5km by posting a time of 17m 2s, beating Michael Macklin's previous mark by over 30s.

It was a good night for the handicapper, too, with 20 runners finishing within 60s of each other. That put extra pressure on timekeepers Eric Lowery and Carol MacDonald who coped well.

Results, in order of handicap time and actual time:

2km: Aidan Furkert 34.17, 11.37; Samantha Duthie 34.49, 9.49; William Horsbrugh 34.53, 9.53; Matthew Furkert 35.52, 9.42; Olivia Horsbrugh 36.02, 12.22; Kim Hayes 38.39, 25.59; Sarah Meyrick 38.39, 25.59.

5km: Malcolm Swanson 43.17, 20.07; John Ihaka 43.38, 34.38; Kevin Whale 43.54, 43.54; Dean McDougall 43.57, 23.17; John Sage 44.00, 21.50; Ben Winder 44.12, 17.02; Marty Sebire 44.12, 26.42; Stephen Yeats 44.15, 21.55; Teresa Reynolds 44.17, 23.47; Tessa Southey 44.20, 25.20; Greg Lang 44.24, 21.04; Corlette Doherty 44.35, 39.45; Cath Wedderburn 44.37, 35.17; Trish Whale 44.38, 44.38; Tom Porter 44.43, 22.13; Malcolm McDonald 44.47, 20.37; Steve Edge 44.51, 33.51; Susan Southey 44.51, 26.41; Ali Lang 44.52, 37.32; Linda Fairbrother 44.53, 44.33; Steve Britland 45.09, 22.49; Viv Barham 45.09, 32.29; Matthew Sebire 45.18, 27.48; Craig Bird 45.20, 22.30; Katherine Horsbrugh 45.30, 24.00; Paul Furkert 45.34, 20.24; Kate Gay 45.35, 32.55; Michael Macklin 45.41, 18.21; Ray Wallis 45.48, 28.18; Irene Price 46.51, 46.51; Mocina Hobbs 50.03, 50.03; Wendy Burkhart 50.03, 50.03; Audrey Sebire 51.25, 51.25; Jane McDougall 51.25, 51.25; Clarissa Price 51.58, 51.58.