Memorial Road Race

Fifty-six year old Eric Phimister made history by becoming the oldest winner of the annual 24km Memorial Road Race on Saturday.
Run around the Poraiti/Puketapu/Omaranui 'Arthur Lord' circuit, Phimister ran purposefully throughout to lead by over two minutes by the half way mark at Puketapu. Phimister finished in 1.46.50 to claim the prestigious Memorial Trophy in the 43rd edition of the race.
Niall McCormack, who had come down looking to be part of the relay, ended up doing the full distance solo and was rewarded with an excellent 2nd place finish in 1:52:23, while Darren O'Connor showed the rewards of his recent distance training with a very strong third placing in 1:58:28.
O'Connor also claimed the sealed handicap contest for the Arthur Lord Trophy with an adjusted time of 1.43.28. The oldest competitor, 71 year old Don McLeod, had an adjusted time of 1.45.16, just seven seconds ahead of McCormack.
The beautifulle hot weather, whilst wonderful for the spctators, was too much for several of the contestants with 2 DNF's recorded and more than a few suffering the effects of dehydration.

The team's race turned out to be an enthralling affair, particularly over the last lap as the teams came together and the lead changed several times.
Team 'Speedman' opened with their Ace Card in the form of top ranked junior Eric Speakman, who quickly left the field in his wake as he established a lead of nearly 5 minutes over Troy Gullery (Havelock North High School Boys), and Matthew Wheatley (Napier Harriers Juniors). What Eric didn't know was that he was now also the first leg runner for three other teams, who had been made up from other club members looking for a run and who were under instructions to start when the first runner reached the first changeover.
This made for much interest in the second leg as Team Speedman tried again to re-establish their advantage. Mark Speakman piled on the pressure, relishing the downhill running and by the next changeover had put the team back in front, by 3 min 27 sec. Kelly Cooper (Havelock North boys) regained one place for his team to now sit in fourth, while Charlie Chttienden maintained the NHC Juniors place on the road. Second on the road after a termendous run from MAtthew Betesta was the second of the Team's Eric with the other two in third and fifth.
The third leg provided disaster for the Havelock North team as William Hocquard missed the turn at the Puketapu Hotel and raced on up the road for some distance before being alerted by his team mates and having to re-trace his steps back to the course. Meanwhile, Brendan Speakman (Team Speedman) had extended his teams lead to 9 min 45 secs, but the margin was causing concern to his team mates, knowing their weakest link was yet to come and fearing the margin was too small. Toa Elphick (NHC Juniors) put in a fantastic effort over this leg and ran within 30 seconds of Speakman's time to bring his team up to third on the road, 9 mins 50 down on team 'Speedman'.
So, heading into the last leg, Team Speedman were well out in front, but with non-runner Nicole 'Mum' Speakman, entrusted with the last lap, while 5 other teams were within striking distance if all went their way.
Team Speedman started well with Nicole slowly but steadily eating up the road and the opposition nowhere in sight. The Napier Harriers Juniors now had their secret weapon, the elder lightning sister, Annie Creagh on the course and she was chasing hard from behind while Seth Adams (Havelock High Boys) was storming through the field from sixth on the road, trying desperately to make up the lost time from the previous leg.
By the time Team Speedman passed the old Milk Station, they were getting more and more concerned as Nicole was really feeling the heat - both from the burning overhead sun and from the competition. Looking back up the road through the heat haze, at least two runners could now be seen, but as yet could not be made out. As Team Speedman approached the 4km mark at the Waiohiki Bridge, it was now obvious that the two were the leading solo contestant Eric Phimister and, more worrying, the diminutive figure of Annie Creagh. It was now obvious that Team Speedman would not be victorious, but could they hold onto a podium spot?
The Napier Harriers Juniors support crew passed happily by as Annie surged to the lead, hot on the the heels of Phimister and left Team Speedman looking back up the road at the fast approaching Seth Adams, his support crew eagerly cheering him on as the quarry was obvioulsy being run down.
With 1 km to run, Team Speedman watched helplessly as the Havelock North boys ran by in eager pursuit of the NHC Juniors. Meanwhile, Shayna Heywood had also been making in-roads in to the Team Speedman lead and as the teams waited at the finish line, looking back up Symmonds Lane, it was Heywood who appeared ahead of her work day boss and took the third place for her team of Eric Speakman, Sarah Starkey, and Mal Lochrie.
Nicole hung on gamely for a fourth place finish in her only Harriers start for the year, while Eric was left lementing the fact of the four teams he was in he could still only manage a third place!
So the Napier Harriers Juniors triumphed over their older, but less experienced Havelock North Boys opposition, who were left wondering 'what if' - It certainly would have been a close thing! Maybe next year?

Place	Athlete	Grade	Time	H'cap	Adj Time	H'cap Place
1	Eric Phimister	M55	1:46:50	01:00	1:45:50	4
2	Niall McCormack		1:52:23	07:00	1:45:23	3
3	Darren O'Connor		1:58:28	15:00	1:43:28	1
4	Mark Lane	M35	1:58:43	09:00	1:49:43	5
5	Chris Wong	M40	2:02:45	10:00	1:52:45	6
6	Don McLeod	M70	2:21:16	36:00	1:45:16	2
7	Marion Sherburn	W65	2:32:14	35:00	1:57:14	7
	Steve Betesta		DNF
	Steve Armon		DNF

Place	Athlete	6.2km	Athlete	5.9km	Elapsed	Athlete	6.0km	Elapsed	Athlete	6.0km	Total
1	Matthew Wheatley	28:46	Charlie Chittenden	26:21	55:07	Toa Elphick	24:28	1:19:35	Annie Creagh	27:35	1:47:10
2	Troy Gullery	28:26	Kelly Cooper	23:23	51:49	William Hocquard	32:05	1:23:54	Seth Adams	26:28	1:50:22
3	Eric Speakman	23:41	Sarah Starkey	31:02	54:43	Mal Lochrie	27:56	1:22:39	Shayna Heywood	29:01	1:51:40
4	Eric Speakman	23:41	Mark Speakman	22:06	45:47	Brendan Speakman	23:58	1:09:45	Nicole Speakman	42:41	1:52:26
5	Eric Speakman	23:41	Mike Lintott	26:57	50:38	Henare Harvey-Brewster	30:27	1:21:05	Natasha Town-Warner	32:55	1:54:00
6	Eric Speakman	23:41	Matthew Betesta	25:33	49:14	Ben Fulton	28:51	1:18:05	Ann-Marie Earwicker	44:43	2:02:48
7	Victoria Tolhopf	30:24	Denise Tryon	28:27	58:51	Gracie Pryce	33:14	1:32:05	Paige Heavey	33:36	2:05:41

Previous Years Results Here:- 2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005