Sunrise over the Pacific Ocean saw the first participants in the Waimairi Beach Challenge turn up to claim their race numbers. Everyone was thankful that this year, unlike last year's event, the tide was out giving the runners the chance to keep to the hard-packed sand. With perfect running conditions - no wind and a cool, overcast sky - the runners set off at a cracking pace.
Duncan Brown came through strongly to win the men's 24km event in 1:35:39, with race regulars Guy Dryden (1:36:02) and Neil Christian (1:38:58) taking 2nd and 3rd. In the women's field Robyn Perkins had a clear win (1:47:05), followed by Nicola Leete (1:51:12) for 2nd and Christina Wood (2.13.20) for 3rd.
In the women's 14km event Kathryn Buncks took out first place, breaking the 1-hour mark over the undulating sandy terrain with a fast time over 10 minutes clear of her closest competitor, finishing in 56:10. Rachel Brown claimed 2nd in 1:05:39 and Helen Wright close behind in 1.05:57. The men's 14km field saw a showdown between Mark Shalloe (54:15) and Graham Curtis (54:17) for 2nd and 3rd place, with Mike Laird a minute clear to take 1st place (53:30).
In the children's 2.5km race Thomas Anderson (11) flew over the challenging course in a fantastic time of 11:37, followed by Sam Clark (10) in 12:35 and James Anderson (7) in 13:56. In the girl's race Jaime van der Voort (10) ran a strong race to place first in 14:01, with Beka Hunt (12) taking second in 16:03 and Jessica Campbell (12) running 16:44 for third place.
A special mention goes to Christchurch Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team's youngest ever participant - Shayla O'Connell, age 3! Well done to Shayla and also to her cousin Alex O'Hagan (12) who willingly stayed with and encouraged Shayla for the entire 2.5km race, which they completed in 32:12.
Name |
Place |
Race Time |
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14km Beach Run : Women |
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|
Kathryn Buncks |
1 |
56.10 |
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Rachel Brown |
2 |
1.05.39 |
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Helen Wright |
3 |
1.05.57 |
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|
Raelene Rees |
4 |
1.10.36 |
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|
Sharon Owen |
5 |
1.11.13 |
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|
Debbie Happer |
6 |
1.11.32 |
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|
Briar Nash |
7 |
1.13.36 |
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Leanne Anderson |
8 |
1.14.15 |
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|
Kahlia Sutherland |
9 |
1.14.32 |
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|
Becky Wolff |
10 |
1.15.01 |
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|
Emma Gould |
11 |
1.17.43 |
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|
Tania Batley |
12 |
1.18.03 |
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|
Jane Radford |
13 |
1.18.23 |
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|
Sharon Gottermeyer |
14 |
1.18.43 |
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|
Susan Dunn |
15 |
1.26.05 |
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|
Kaori Kimura |
16 |
1.29.18 |
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|
Corrine O'Connell |
17 |
1.34.24 |
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|
Wendy Bettjeman |
18 |
1.37.05 |
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|
Kay Bayliss |
19 |
1.38.57 |
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|
Maureen Heffernan |
20 |
1.46.45 |
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14km Beach Run : Men |
|||||
|
Mike Laird |
1 |
53.30 |
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|
Mark Shalloe |
2 |
54.15 |
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|
Graham Curtis |
3 |
54.17 |
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|
Andy Owen |
4 |
54.25 |
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|
Mark Tolra |
5 |
55.20 |
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|
Brent Happer |
6 |
56.32 |
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|
Matt Akehurst |
7 |
57.45 |
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|
Peter Buttle |
8 |
1.00.14 |
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|
Ross Radford |
9 |
1.05.51 |
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|
Jayden Elley |
10 |
1.07.46 |
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|
Reuben Hunt |
11 |
1.08.58 |
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|
Wayne Melrose |
12 |
1.09.56 |
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|
Rhys Gould |
13 |
1.17.43 |
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|
Kevin Prendergast |
14 |
1.26.47 |
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|
Dean Rees |
15 |
1.28.26 |
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24km Beach Run : Women |
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|
Robyn Perkins |
1 |
1.47.05 |
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|
Nicola Leete |
2 |
1.51.12 |
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|
Christina Wood |
3 |
2.13.20 |
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|
Sarah Lockyer |
4 |
2.25.03 |
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|
Karina Rebelo |
5 |
2.59.55 |
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24km Beach Run : Men |
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|
Duncan Brown |
1 |
1.35.39 |
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|
Guy Dryden |
2 |
1.36.02 |
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|
Neil Christian |
3 |
1.38.58 |
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|
Emile Ferrand |
4 |
1.53.01 |
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|
Andrew Redmond |
5 |
1.54.12 |
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|
Bruce Woods |
6 |
1.54.49 |
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|
Jacob Bignell |
7 |
2.01.33 |
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|
Andre Hart |
8 |
2.04.13 |
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|
Stephen Graham |
9 |
2.05.39 |
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|
Dave Candy |
10 |
2.07.30 |
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|
James Ryan |
11 |
2.08.02 |
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|
Mordecai Nkhwazi |
12 |
2.10.57 |
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|
Matt Bone |
13 |
2.12.05 |
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|
Charles More |
14 |
2.13.00 |
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|
Damien Kersey |
15 |
2.16.10 |
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|
Michael Brown |
16 |
2.17.05 |
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|
Michael Passant |
17 |
2.18.39 |
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|
Max Sydney |
18 |
2.24.23 |
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Rhys Spicer |
19 |
2.34.05 |
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|
Wiremu Kuka |
20 |
2.34.05 |
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Felix Porten |
21 |
2.39.45 |
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|
Blake Carey |
22 |
2.44.20 |
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|
Cameron Bignell |
23 |
2.44.57 |
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|
Joe Jordan |
24 |
2.44.57 |
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Children's 2.5km Run : Girls |
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|
Jaime van der Voort |
1 |
14.01 |
|||
|
Beka Hunt |
2 |
16.03 |
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|
Jessica Campbell |
3 |
16.44 |
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|
Benita Clark |
4 |
16.58 |
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|
Shayla O'Connell |
5 |
32.12 |
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Children's 2.5km Run : Boys |
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|
Thomas Anderson |
1 |
11.37 |
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|
Sam Clark |
2 |
12.35 |
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|
James Anderson |
3 |
13.36 |
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|
Tyler McWilliam |
4 |
13.44 |
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|
Aaron Clark |
5 |
13.50 |
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|
Jaimie O'Hagan |
6 |
13.56 |
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|
Joseph Ryan |
7 |
13.56 |
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|
Patrick Ryan |
8 |
14.48 |
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|
Brooklyn O'Connell |
9 |
15.57 |
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|
Ben Hunt |
10 |
16.10 |
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|
Lochie Peacock |
11 |
16.31 |
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|
Alex O'Hagan |
12 |
32.12 |
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