Preview New Zealand Road Relay Championships

University of Canterbury will be shooting for their fourth straight victory in the senior men’s event at the New Zealand road relay championships to be staged around the rural roads of Inglewood on Saturday.

They have fielded a solid team of Andrew Davidson, Brett Tingay, Luke Hurring, Malcolm Hicks, Matt Harris, Phil Costley, Rowan Hooper and Sam Wreford for the eight stage 76.10km relay.

Wreford has put up a couple of outstanding performances in recent weeks and if he is down to run the longest leg, lap three of 11.3km, should give the Varsity boys plenty of traction in their bid to match North Harbour Bays who are the only club to win four years in a row, 1994 to 1997.

However a strong challenge is likely to come from Wellington Scottish.

Scottish, winners in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004, have been on the podium every year except 2007 since 1998. Their line-up is Rees Buck, Hamish Carson, Stefan Smith, Glenn Hughes, Matt Dravitzki, James List, Martin Van Barneveld and James Coubrough.

Carson is the New Zealand 1500m champion, Buck the national 10,000m champion, Dravitzki the national marathon champion and Smith is the Wellington cross country and road champion.

Pakuranga, who have yet to win a senior men’s title, have entered Nick Pannett, national cross country champion Alex Parlane, Dale Warrander fresh from his Lydiard Legends marathon victory, Sam Dobson, Scott Winton, Leydon Tolhurst, Jonny McKee and Ryan Sissons.

Seven times winners New Brighton have Jason Woolhouse and Hayden McLaren entered while North Harbour Bays’, champions on nine occasions, entry includes Paul Hamblyn and Richard Olsen.

Canterbury University should make it two years in a row in the women’s relay over the same distance. National cross country champion Fiona Crombie heads a strong team of Aine Hoban, Alex Williams, Julieana Findlay, Kellie Palmer, Nicki McFadzien, Tracy Crossley and Whitney Greig. Pakuranga, winners in 2007 and 2008 will press University all the way with their line up of Rosana Balle, Virginia Hales, Hannah Barker, Renee Holtom, Penny Peskett, Lisa Robertson, Sarah Devoy and Leah Hirshfeld. North Harbour Bays and Auckland City Athletics should be in the run for a medal placing.

Auckland City Athletics will be defending their junior men’s title with an experienced team of Mathew Morreau, Ben Moynihan, Magnus Whyte, Sam Morreau, Tadele Tekle-Haimanot and Jonathan Jackson. Hamilton City Hawks winners in 2001 and 2002 come back into the picture this year with an impressive line up of Aaron Pulford, Mohamed Ali, Cory Whiting, Kieran McPherson, Ollie Smith and Scott Hellier. Cameron Graves, Thomas Currie and Nathan Barrett are down to run for North Harbour Bays and Athletics Nelson winners in 2006 and 2008 are headed by Ewoud Noordeloos and Craig Lautenslager. Wellington Harrier Athletic who last won in 1993 have Kieron MacDonald and Nicholas Bingham.

Auckland City Athletics should make it four years in a row in the junior women with Amelia Watkinson, Ashleigh Williams, Courtney Hendrickson, Sally Wilkins, Ella Mangan-Walker and Georgie Grgec, chased all the way by North Harbour Bays team of Danielle Trevis, Maddie Dillon, Kimberley Burke, Natasha Bowyer, Pip Brown and Annika Pfitzinger. Hamilton City Hawks should also feature at the medal presentation with Maddy Brunton, Olivia Ritchie and Mikayla Neilson featuring in their team.

Scottish will start as one of the favourites for the masters men 40-49 title. Scottish have yet to win a masters 40 title but this could be their year with a team of Warren Maguren, Greg Mitchell, Grant McLean, Todd Stevens, Jim Jones, Peter Stevens, David Kettles and Craig McLean. Richard Bennett spearheads a strong Papanui TocH contingent of Anthony Duncraft, Jason Baillie, Ronnie Thomas, Darren Hoolahan, Shane Grose, Don Greig and Chris Jordan. Hamilton City Hawks also looks formidable with Gary Wilson, Kent Hodgson, Andrew Wark, David Sharp, John Crane, Stefan Wagner, Dion Hardy and Glenn Sexton. Seven times winners Auckland University will also be in contention with Mike Hindmarsh, Bruce Duncan, Robbie Johnston, Phil Hendrix, Matt O’Donoghue, Rick Mann, Luke Howard and Tony Woodhouse.

Auckland University should win the masters 50 relay with their team of Keith Proctor, Brett Kattens, Gavin Stevens, Tony King, Graham Macky, Dave Harkness, Clive Henderson and Ian Richards. Auckland City Athletics will put up a strong bid with Charles Stewart, Brett Laurent, Greg Banks, Gerald Duncan, Malcolm Chamberlin, Richard Bright, Richard Adams and Bernard Hanley.

Hamilton City Hawks will be defending their masters women title with another powerful team of Tracey Greenwood, Kirsten Milne, Bridgette Deveral, Anne Bradley, Marion Millward, Helen Hall, Lee-Ann Sharp and Bridget Ray. Scottish five times previous winners will be in the hunt with Helen Willis, Anne Hare, Melissa Moon, Jenny McDonald, Bernie Portenski, Mandy Simpson, Betty Harp and Tricia Sloan.

Wellington Scottish with 17 teams competing across the board should be in with a chance in the overall competition for the top club award. The award is decided on the placings of the best three teams of each club. Hamilton City Hawks won last year.