June 2007: EyeDeal Opticians Hastings half Marathon and TUMU ITM 10km run/walk
by John Beaumont
15 April 2007 saw the sun rise on the Hastings ½ Marathon again after no event in 2006 giving us a still fine cool start to a warm day. We started afresh with new major sponsors in EyeDeal Opticians and TUMU ITM Building Centre.
The committee was a mix of “old hands” and “new blood” ably guided by Roger Hooker, with Gerard and Robyn managing registration.
The event was a success with 500 entries and many favourable comments received. We all learnt a little more about event management and several improvements will be added next year. Providing a measured 10km event moved the start down the road from the finish and the transponders were an innovation for the event. We were a victim of our success and ran short of race packs.
Unfortunately at the prize giving, line honours were overlooked . First home in the Men’s Run was Neville Smith in 1:11:33, ahead of Ross McIntyre 1:11:54 and Quentin Rew 1:17:20, and in the Women’s, Catherine Donovan in 1:31:55 ahead of Debbie Robinson 1:33:02 and Karen Wedd 1:35:10. Fastest Men’s Walker was Joff Hulbert in 2:09:07 ahead of Eugene Smith 2:12:11 and John Holschier 2:15:24, all three in the M50-59 age group which proves that old walkers get faster?? Honours for the Women’s Walk went to Wendy Foulds 2:19:24 ahead of Julie White 2:28:15 and Sherry Sullivan 2:29:15.
We look forward to an even bigger event so mark your diaries for Sunday 13 April 2008.
