2012 Kaiteriteri Half Marathon

Story by: Shuttersport - Photo by: Chris Symes

Saturday's Kaiteriteri Gold half marathon and 10km couldn't have got any better.

A glorious day, a record field and two half marathon runs with records set that will need a masterful effort to beat in future years.

Phil Costley is the master, a few clicks over 67 minutes in last month's Buller half marathon, and he backed that up going under 69 minutes on Saturday on a much more demanding course.

He didn't have it all his own way, however, as Christchurch's Blair McWhirter also has a mean pair of feet and chased him all around the coastline, ending up only two minutes behind.

Graeme Taylor continued his good form, third in 75min 14sec, followed by Tim Bolter and Brian Kemp who now go into the sub 1hr 20 min Event Honours Board, Bolter for the second time.

Paula Canning didn't know Anne-Marie Madden's background pre-race but certainly does now. The Dunedin-based Canadian was all class setting her 1hr 23min 15sec time as Canning chased her shadow. Nelson's top female runner gave it her all, though, continuing her improvement. A time of 1hr 28min 43sec in 2010, backed up last year with 1hr 27min 16sec, and this time round the scent of Madden made her run almost two minutes quicker, recording 1hr 25min 40sec and ninth overall.

Klaartje Van Schie is now realising her potential and has her name now scribed at 1hr 27min 47sec on the honours board.

Roger Denton joins her again, but in the walk category with 2hr 16min 55sec. Ros D'Agnilli and Mary Eggers were always close around the circuit with D'Agnilli the stronger of the two for second.

The 10km provides a second option and again was well supported with 185 competitors on the Kaiteriteri Marahau Highway. Cliff Bowman (37min 23sec) led them all, followed by Blenheim's Frank Medina, the other to go under 40 minutes. Medina's town-mate Peter Dick was next in at 41min 22sec.

Robyn Deane and Kate Fitzgerald are having a bit of an affair whenever they race against each other but Deane had the upper hand, by 34 seconds.

Ross Mitchell warmed up for next Sunday's Port Nelson Blokes Day Out men's triathlon. He admitted he was no Lance Armstrong and that Ian Thorpe would still have the better tumble turn, but walking was his domain and he heeled and toed away with the winner's mug in the 10km walk. Motueka's Bevan Cook was second and Meryl Jordan the first female.

The next running event for Nelson Events is April's Alpine Lodge Loop the Lake. There are 43 places left in the 400-capacity race.

Full results from Saturday on nelsonevents.co.nz.