Strong entries for road relay champs

TEAM PLAYER: Colin Earwaker is a member of the Lake City Athletic Club Masters 60 team tipped to do well at the national Road Relay Championships. PHOTO/FILE

Local medal hopes will ride on masters 60

Well over 100 teams have entered next weekend's New Zealand Road Relay championships being hosted by Lake City Athletic Club.

Of the 111 teams registered, 72 will tackle the 67km course, the remainder taking to the shorter course which is around 45km.

"One hundred-and-eleven isn't too bad considering it's our first time - we are pretty happy with that," said race director Chris Corney.

Among the top teams for the A grade men's race are defending champions Scottish from Wellington.

However, they are unlikely to have it all their own way, with New Brighton Olympic, Pakuranga, Auckland City Athletic Club and Wellington Harriers all registering strong teams.

One of the dark horses could be Napier. They have quite a young team. They haven't competed for a long time, but have some good runners in there.

Chris Corney

In the A Grade women's section, University of Canterbury will travel north to defend their title.

Other strong women's teams will be those from North Harbour Bays, Hamilton Hawkes, Wellington Harriers, Scottish and Napier.

The host club has seven teams entered, with the masters 60 team of Phil Gulbransen, Trevor Ogilvie, Ray Hewlett, Ray Lichtwark, Campbell Horn and Colin Earwaker the one most likely to win a medal, according to Corney.

"I think the masters 40 team have a chance of maybe taking a bronze medal, but my money would be on the 60 team. They are seasoned competitors and Colin Earwaker has just got back from Europe where he has been for the world mountain running champs. They have been going for a long time those runners."

The relay takes place on October 1.

The short course and junior relays will start at Agroventures and the long course at Rotorua International Stadium, with the first change at Paradise Valley, all finishing outside the Energy Events Centre after circumnavigating the lake.

The long course will comprise seven legs of between just under 9km and just over 10km. Part of the course will follow the route of the Rotorua Marathon.

The senior men's and women's A grade teams will be running for national titles, as will the masters grades. B and C grades and the walkers won't have national titles available.
Corney said preparations are well in hand.

"I'm hoping the weather comes right, but we've got to deal with what we get, I just hope there's no rain, that will make it easier, but the show will go on, no matter what.

"Everything else is ready, the team's working well and we are pretty much ready to go."

The championships will be hosted in Rotorua this and next year.

• The Lake City Athletic Club' is hosting the Fenton Park Blast tomorrow.
• Meet 1.45pm on Kain Ave for a 3km (1.5km for children) race around the streets of Fenton Park, starting at 2pm.