Despite the heavy overnight rain making the course a quagmire, 87 keen Harriers turned out to the Mission Cross Country Races on Saturday afternoon. With sections of the course a mud bath and others parts totally under water, the racing was made very interesting.

The first race of the day was the boys and girls under 12 event raced over one 2km lap, and it was predictably won by Hastings Harriers Ben Barry in a time of 8:10. This was well over a minute clear of the battle for second and third, which was keenly fought affair between Hastings brothers Ben and Tom Biss and Napier Harrier Brendan Speakman. The three battled the whole race and eventually finish second, third and fourth respectively with only eight seconds separating them at the finish. The girls side of the race Napier�s Lydia Diver was equally dominant as she finished well clear of her club-mate Abbey Green with Hastings� Monica Burnard third.

The second race of the day had a multitude of grades all racing together which saw 40 athletes on the start line for the 4km race. The race was for the under 14 and under 16 boys and girls, and the under 18, under 20, Senior and Veteran women. First home was Napier Harriers Stefan Smith racing in the B16 grade. His time of 15:30 was 23 seconds ahead of Napier Boys High Schools Mathew Hill, also B16 grade, with Hastings Harriers Ryan Woolley first B14 home and taking third overall.

Andrea Williams of the Hastings cub won the Senior Women�s event with Napier�s Gina Finlayson second while Jo Cavanagh comfortably won the Vet Women�s title for her Napier club. Hastings� Clare Burnard crossed for second Vet Woman while Napier�s Cheryl Simpson was third.

Laura Smidt, Napier, was the winner of the G16 grade taking a narrow victory over Hastings� Gemma Deacon with Zoe Chisholm winning the G14 title as third girl home. Venessa Mygind, Hasitngs, had an enthralling battle with Napier�s Claire McGettigan, eventually taking the G20 win while McGettigan finished 2 seconds later for the G18 win.

The under 18 and under 20 men raced with the Senior and Veteran Men over 3 laps for a 6km total. New Zealand Cross Country rep and Hastings Harrier Mathew Holder was the comfortable winner in 19:40 with his club-mate Josh Barber second, 42 seconds in arrears. Napier�s John Hambleton took third overall while winning the Veteran Men�s race just 20 seconds behind Barber and well clear of club-mate Chris Corney who took third Senior Man some 43 seconds later. Hastings� Ross Morrison won the B18 race, 23 seconds clear of Napier�s Kane Green, both well clear of B20 winner Raymon Steenson.

Included in the days racing were the Napier Harriers Novice Cup races for the Senior Men and Women. The cups are awarded to the first man and first woman home that have never won a Harrier race. Leo Pearce was the winner of the Men�s trophy and Nicole Speakman the winner for the Women�s.

The days racing also doubled as the first of the Napier Club�s Sealed Handicap Series, which is raced over four events throughout the season. In Sealed Handicap format, a predetermined time is deducted from the finishing time of the runners, depending on their ability but this time is not known by the athletes until after the event is finished. Winners on adjusted handicap times were - Boys and Girls under 12, Phillip Rogers and Jae Green tied for first. Rory Diver, boys under 14/16. Shayna Heywood, girls under 14/16. Claire McGettigan, girls under 18/20. Brent Jones, Senior/Vet Men. Cheryl Simpson, Vet Women.