An untimely southerly rainstorm did little to quell the enthusiasm of the 588 competitors who took part in the annual Marina 2 Marina event based in Picton yesterday.
Participants tested their fitness on four separate courses, while enjoying a social event which is rapidly growing in popularity since its inception in 2013.
The longest challenge was posed by the 24km Link Run, staged on a course which begins at Anakiwa and wends its way along the Queen Charlotte Drive to the combined finish line on the Picton Foreshore.
The 13km Snout course takes runners and walkers to the end of the Snout and back, while the eponymous Marina 2 Marina 10km event, also for both walkers and runners, sees participants move from Picton Marina to Waikawa Marina and return.
The younger ones are also catered for. The Kids Dash 2km event, for children aged 5-9 years, follows a course around Picton Marina.
Despite Saturday’s inclement conditions, some speedy times were recorded.
Winner of the Link title this year was Nelson’s Clinton Manderson, a former St Clair Half Marathon victor. His time of 1.42.00 is thought to be a new race record.
Clinton was a Marina 2 Marina first-timer, ending up on the waiting list last year and missing out. However, he made no mistake this time around, getting in early and relishing the challenge despite the inclement weather.
“It was a good event,” he said. “You know how it goes, when you book these events, you are expecting a beautiful sunny day … typically my luck to get into the event this time and it’s raining.”
“But to be honest I would rather run in the rain. Once you are out there it doesn’t matter whether it is windy or raining, you just get into it. I didn’t need drinks out there and I wasn’t fatiguing too much, so it was all good.”
Megan Graham, a serial winner in the region’s long distance and hill climbing events, took out the women’s title, in 2.00.57, placing eighth overall.
Another well-known local athlete, Billy Hebberd, won the Snout Run in 1.03.53, MGC student Lena Bailey the first female home in 1.13.04.
Mark Rounce from Nelson won the Snout Walk title in 1.46.41, while local Linda Mesman took the women’s title in 1.54.39.
The Marina 2 Marina title was claimed by Jarod Thompsett from Blenheim in 48.29 while Esther Dadswell, also from Blenheim, took out the women’s title in 50.44.
Bary Neal was first home in the Marina 2 Marina Walk, recording 1.03.09, with Lisa Johnston, another local, first female home in 1.16.09.
The Kids Dash was won by Harrison Murdoch from Linkwater, with Evie Jellyman, from Christchurch the first girl home.
Results:
Link Run
Men: 1 Clinton Manderson (Richmond) 1.42.00; 2 Chris Sharland (Nelson) 1.44.54; 3 Frank Wright (Blenheim) 1.52.11. Women: 1 Megan Graham (Blenheim) 2.00.57; 2 Olivia Bird (Nelson) 2.01.51; 3 Solane Stephens (Blenheim) 2.12.04.
Snout Run
Men: 1 Billy Hebberd (Rarangi) 1.03.53; 2 Joseph Lewis (Blenheim) 1.05.55; 3 John Marshall (Wellington) 1.06.06. Women: 1 Lena Bailey (Spring Creek) 1.13.04; 2 Ali Senior 1.19.18; 3 Jeanny Terry (Featherston) 1.20.59.
Snout Walk
Men: 1 Mark Rounce (Nelson) 1.46.41; 2 Andre Manton (Richmond) 2.12.32; 3 William Wilkins (Picton) 2.20.47. Women: 1 Linda Mesman (Tuamarina) 1.54.39; 2 Kerry Register (Blenheim) 1.57.23; 3 Zoe Aitchison (Picton) 1.57.46.
Marina 2 Marina Run
Men: 1 Jarod Thompsett (Blenheim) 48.29; 2 Maxime Remond (Blenheim) 49.36; 3 Tom McRae (Rapaura) 50.14. Women: 1 Esther Dadswell (Blenheim) 50.44; 2 Ali Jones (Blenheim) 51.37; 3 Martha Murchison (Blenheim) 54.14.
Marina 2 Marina Walk
Men: 1 Bary Neal (Blenheim) 1.03.09; 2 Mark Woodmore (Picton) 1.23.41; 3 Gary Hodge (Blenheim) 1.26.36. Women: 1 Lisa Johnston (Blenheim) 1.16.09; 2 Maryann Thompson (Christchurch); 3 Linda King (Blenheim) 1.26.33.
Kids Dash
Boys: 1 Harrison Murdoch (Linkwater) 8.44; 2 Louie Rutherford (Linkwater) 8.59; 3 Wills Murdoch (Linkwater) 9.03. Girls: 1 Evie Jellyman (Christchurch) 9.48; 2 Ellie Goodman (Richmond) 10.29; 3 Gabriella James (Blenheim) 11.01.
