Club News
Grand Memorial and Old Members' Day and visit from Hutt Valley Harriers - Saturday 2nd June 23 May 2012.
On Saturday 2 June are the historical Grand Memorial races. This is an Olympic Harriers club event, held out in Ohariu Valley. It is also Old Members' Day, where we invite past members to join us, and Hutt Valley Harriers is visiting us for our annual exchange. We finish the event with afternoon tea at the clubrooms - club members please bring a plate.
THE RACES
The main Grand Memorial event is an exciting open handicap race - everyone starts at a different time, with the slowest going first and the fastest starting last. If the club handicapper has done his job well (and if everyone runs their expected times) then everyone will cross the finish line at the same time - the end of the race can be very exciting as everyone bears down on the finish line at different paces.
(Note there are two different distances, with the women's grades and the junior men's grades running 4km, and the senior and masters mens grades running 8km. Your start times will take these distances into account.)
The boys and girls have their own scratch (non-handicap) races before the main race - B9 and G9 running 1km, and B13 and G13 running 2km.
THE COURSE
The course is the ultimate in traditional cross country. There are no big hills, but the terrain is rugged farmland, with 8 stream crossings per 2km lap. The ground can be slippery, particularly if it's wet, so spikes or grippy shoes are a must. (Avoid wearing brand new spikes if possible, because the stony stream crossings can be hard on them.)
THE TROPHIES
This race has an abundance of trophies and certificates up for grabs. And because it is open handicap, this race is the best chance for those who aren't usually up the front to win something. There are trophies or certificates awarded for the first three across the line for each of the senior men/masters men's grades, senior women/masters women's grades, junior men's grades, and junior women's grades. There are also trophies for the fastest times in each of those grades, including the coveted senior men/masters men's 'Dad Philp Pewter Pot', which dates back to the 19th century.
This is also the second of our club races that count towards the Club Champion trophy, the 'C G Grant 50th Jubilee Cup'.
::[Event in the calendar]::[Generic race information]::[Club trophies]::
THE RACES
The main Grand Memorial event is an exciting open handicap race - everyone starts at a different time, with the slowest going first and the fastest starting last. If the club handicapper has done his job well (and if everyone runs their expected times) then everyone will cross the finish line at the same time - the end of the race can be very exciting as everyone bears down on the finish line at different paces.
(Note there are two different distances, with the women's grades and the junior men's grades running 4km, and the senior and masters mens grades running 8km. Your start times will take these distances into account.)
The boys and girls have their own scratch (non-handicap) races before the main race - B9 and G9 running 1km, and B13 and G13 running 2km.
THE COURSE
The course is the ultimate in traditional cross country. There are no big hills, but the terrain is rugged farmland, with 8 stream crossings per 2km lap. The ground can be slippery, particularly if it's wet, so spikes or grippy shoes are a must. (Avoid wearing brand new spikes if possible, because the stony stream crossings can be hard on them.)
THE TROPHIES
This race has an abundance of trophies and certificates up for grabs. And because it is open handicap, this race is the best chance for those who aren't usually up the front to win something. There are trophies or certificates awarded for the first three across the line for each of the senior men/masters men's grades, senior women/masters women's grades, junior men's grades, and junior women's grades. There are also trophies for the fastest times in each of those grades, including the coveted senior men/masters men's 'Dad Philp Pewter Pot', which dates back to the 19th century.
This is also the second of our club races that count towards the Club Champion trophy, the 'C G Grant 50th Jubilee Cup'.
::[Event in the calendar]::[Generic race information]::[Club trophies]::