Hastings Showgrounds, July 21, 2001

Craig Mathers is the Napier Harrier Club�s new Cross Country Champion after decimating his club opposition at the Hastings Showgrounds on Saturday. The club was holding their club championships in conjunction with the Hawkes Bay/Gisborne provincial champs, and the battle between Mathers and defending champion Chris Corney turned out to be one of the high lights of the day. Racing over a 6 lap, 12km course, Mathers started fairly conservatively, but was quickly leading his club-mates with Corney opting to follow, and bide his time. Trailing by up to 30 meters half way through the race, Corney made his move at the end of the fourth lap, pulling alongside and then passing Mathers as they headed into the fifth lap. But this was apparently just the spur that Mathers needed, as he quickly retook the lead and by the end of the lap had restored his 30 meter advantage. The surge broke Corney�s spirit and Mathers continued to pull away leading by over 150 meters as he crossed the tape to take the trophy. Corney finished 44 seconds later for second place with Kevin Fisher well back in third.

The Veteran Men�s race was much more clear cut with Eric Phimister commandingly taking the club title by 1:35 over John Craven, who was made to work hard for his second spot with Alan Simpson crossing just 10 seconds behind him.

Jo Cavanagh took the Vet Women�s title in similar fashion, leading from start to finish for an easy title with Sheila Smidt and Adele Marsh taking the minor placings.

The under 14/16 boys and girls all raced together along with the under 18 girls, and it was Kane Green who was first across the line at the end of the 3 lap, 6km race. Green, racing in the B16 grade was a convincing winner, despite doing little more than he needed to, he was never really threatened in taking both the provincial and club titles. Similarly Laura Smidt produced the same result in the G14 grade, crossing the line as first girl and fifth overall for both provincial and club titles. Annika Edmondson crossed next, just holding out for the provincial title in the W18 grade but easily accounting for the club title, while 2 places further back Andre Smith claimed the B14 club trophy in what was voted the Junior Run of the Day.

The first race on the card had been the under 12 boys and girls. Racing over just one lap, young Brendan Speakman shot to the lead, but was quickly run down by his older brother Eric. Eric then comfortably held on for the remainder of the 2km race, to take the club title by 48 seconds from Brendan, with a rapidly improving Ryan Smidt crossing for third. Aleesha Heywood took the girls title uncontested.

The days racing also doubled as the second �sealed handicap� event of the season. In a �sealed handicap� the handicappers deduct a predetermined amount from the finishing time of the runners, thereby giving anyone a chance to �win on handicap�. Points are then allocated accordingly and the athlete with the highest tally at the end of the year is declared the handicap champion. Because this form of racing advantages no given runner, grades are combined to create more interest. Winners on the day were Ryan Smidt in the under 12�s, whose adjusted time left him 9 seconds clear of Brendan Speakman with Eric Speakman 2 seconds back for third. Andre Smith won the B14/16 combined from Andrew Prosser and Kane Green, while Shayna Heywood took the G14/16 race from Laura Smidt and Dianna Best. Adele Marsh, Jo Cavanagh and Sheila Smidt were the winners in the women�s, while Craig Mathers efforts were also enough to win him senior/vet men�s handicap race by just 2 seconds from Eric Phimister, with Alan Simpson taking third.