A YOUNG GUN AND A RETURNING QUEEN CROWNED AT

10TH PEAK TRAIL BLAZER

(Peak Trail Blaser results - media release)

 

What started out as a cool day with plenty of cloud cover gave way to hot, dry and near-windless conditions testing all 750 competitors at this morning’s annual Peak Trail Blazer as the title of King of the Peak went to an 18 year old local speedster, while the Queen of the Peak title heads to Wellington to a record breaking fourth-time title holder.

In a time of 50.31 on the 12.8km Te Mata Peak course, the title of Te Awanga Estate King of the Peak went to 18 year old Ronan Lee from Lindisfarne College, making him the youngest crowned King in the event’s 10 year history.

“I am really happy to have taken the win and knew that with such tough competition I had to lead from the start,” says Ronan. “It was a real push from start to finish.” Ronan lead the whole way taking home $500 cash, plus a further $100 for taking out the quickest up-hill (27.46) and down-hill (22.49) legs with the Specsavers Hastings Lucky Legs.

Event Director Jo Throp, who is standing down this year, says “Ronan is already a gun orienteerer so his background in running, his local knowledge and plenty of training on the steep family farm helped him take out the title. We couldn’t be happier for him.”

Second was Kristian Day(52:55) from well-known running club Wellington Scottish, and third was first time entrant Tim Rabone (54.01) from Wellington Harrier Athletic Club.

Wellington’s Ruby Muir took out the title of Hawke’s Bay Orthodontics Queen of the Peak in a time of 59:08, a title she has won a record-breaking three times previously.

Second was 2018 Queen of the Peak Julia Anderson (1:04:59) from Nelson and third was youngster Georgia Dearing (1:06:46) from Taradale High School, who also took out the title of Up & Coming (under 18 on Te Mata Peak) with a fantastic run.

Today saw a further 16 inductees into The Hall of Flames sub-60 minute club, which now boasts a total of 186 entries, each earning themselves a bottle Giant Brewing Co beer and a place on the highly-sort after leaderboards which hang at Hawthorne Coffee in Havelock North. Ronan Lee 50:36, Kristian Day 52:55, Tim Rabone 54:01, Graeme Buscke 55:46, Johnny Atkins 55:55, Tom Sawyer 56:13, Ian Anderson 57:30, Simon Hansen 58:00, Jonathan Moore 58:44, Philip Mckay 58:53, Thomas Mackisack 58:58, Ruby Muir 59:08, Dougie Kyle 59:17, James Evans 59:38, Kevin Harvey 59:42 and James Hillard 59:54.

There were no inductees into The Scorchers Sub 50 club with Ronan Lee narrowly missing out by 31 seconds.

Ms Throp says they were blown away by both the sheer effort and the number of entrants – a record 750 over the two courses - with support coming from all around Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand. “Conditions were really tough today. When the cloud burnt off and that sun came out, boy it got hot, and for the most part there wasn’t a breath of wind. We’re really proud of everyone’s efforts, ten years and well over 6000 participants later, we’re chuffed.”

Winning $150 from Go Healthy in the Up & Coming category (Under 18 on Te Mata Peak), Johnathon Moore from Napier Harriers in a time of 58:44. He was followed home by Callum O’Keefe (1:00:14) and Braeden Kommeren (1:01:02) both from Lindisfarne College.

In the girls Up & Coming category Phoebe Driscoll (1:13:10) from Iona College came 2nd, with Tessa Burns (1:14:17) not far behind.

Walking on the Te Mata Peak trail, 59 year old Cedric Murphy (1:29:55) returned to take back the title he’d won a couple of years ago, while Mel Lewis successfully defended the title of female walk in 1:47:11.

On the 3.5km Tainui Trail, Clive School’s Cerys Llewellyn (17:09) won the title of Princess of Tainui and Tristan Lede from Poukawa School won the Prince of Tainui in 14:45. Both received $150 each from Kiwigarden.

The brainchild of three Havelock North Primary mums, the event aimed to raise funds for the school, raise the school’s profile within the wider community, promote health and wellbeing, and utilize the fantastic natural resources of the Tainui Reserve and Te Mata Peak.

The event has raised over $160,000 to date (not including 2018 yet). This year 20% of the funds raised would be donated to the Nourished for Nil and a further 20% to Eye Care for Africa, with the remainder to Havelock North Primary.

Peak Trail Blazer gold sponsors are Hawke’s Bay Orthodontics, Te Awanga Estate, Hawthorne Coffee, Bramwell Bate Lawyers, Peak Fitness + Health, SpecSavers Hastings, Hilton Brown Swimming and Dentiq along with silver sponsors Real World, MR Labels & Print, Shoe Clinic Napier, Flight Centre Havelock North, ANHK Photography and Simon Cartwright Photography.

Full results can be found: www.peaktrailblazer.co.nz

Article added: Tuesday 26 November 2019