Wet sees Ramblers take to the road

There was a late switch of venue for the Ruamahanga Ramblers open handicap event on Saturday with the wet conditions at Parkvale meaning a change to Taumata Island.

The course contained a 2.4km leg on gravel and a 5km leg on a sealed road, allowing participants to choose their race length and running surface.

Veteran Ray Wallis used his handicap to good advantage to take line honours in his section from Greg Lang and there was no surprise about the always-consistent Damian Christofis returning fastest time over the 7.4km.

Results, in order of handicap time and true time:

2.4km: Jessica Duthie 25.57, 11.57; Samantha Duthie 23.28, 11.58; George Tanner 24.16, 12.06; Anthony Rowe-Penny 25.56, 14.56; Amelia Rowe-Penny 25.03, 17.33; Clifford Rowe-Penny 41.46, 39.46.

5km: Stephen Yeats 35.06, 22.46; Michael Scott 37.10, 24.50; Matthew Furkert 49.30, 24.50; Lee Tanner 33.11, 30.01; Linda Hyndson 51.59, 51.59; Judy Drake 52.01, 52.01.

7.4km: Damian Christofis 49.29, 27.59; Michael Rowe-Penny 50.27, 30.07, Malcolm McDonald 49.30, 31.20; Michael Duthie 48.18, 32.58; Greg Lang 47.14, 34.24; Craig Bird 48.59, 34.49; Ray Wallis 45.33, 40.33; Della Laird 48.19, 43.19.

This Saturday's race will be over farmland on the banks of the Ruamahanga River at Morrisons Bush near Greytown.