Cross-country wraps up

Nearly everyone turned up for the final race of the cross-country series last Thursday maybe because of the barbecue afterwards.

Or perhaps it was because they had to, in order to get their final standings for the series, not to mention, you can’t win if you don’t do the last one.

Everyone did very well, considering the toughness of this four times 2km lap course, with its short, sharp hill and the longer one up through the orange grove, nibbling away at the energy levels.

Kelly Pick, who did not attend any of the previous races, made smart work of the course, coming in first place, with Vanessa Palmer in second and Peta Ngari third.

Jacob Pynenburg had no problem coming in to be first junior, and even did another lap of honour. Phil Washbourn, as predicted, powered away to win relatively comfortably, with Scott Howley and Roland Neururer second and third respectively.

Over the series for the women first place went to Palmer, second place to Apii Napa, and third place to Karlene Pynenburg. Jacob Pynenburg won the junior series and for the men Washbourn was first with Howley and Neururer second equal; and Rhys Woodger third.

Bright shiny new trophies were presented to the first place getters with Washbourn and Palmer also getting the rights to a trip to represent the Cook Islands at the Oceania Cross Country in Brisbane during August. For everyone’s hard efforts a well earned barbecue meal was indulged in afterwards. The Masters athletes now head to Tahiti for the Oceania Champs, so we wish them well. As a result, a break of two or three weeks will be had, before the road race series starts, and the build up to the annual Round Raro Road Race and ‘week of running’.