Hometown triumph at Gore Cross-country event
Bryce McVicar, starting with a 10:30 min handicap, reeled in the front starters and took the lead in sight of the finish line, but even then he didn’t ease up, winning by almost 100 metres.
By Lance Smith
In its 68-year history the Gore Crosscountry has rarely been won by the fastest. Usually the most determined prevails.
This is because the event, a major fixture on the Southland running calendar, is a handicap race. Everybody has a chance, but the more determined you are the better your chances.
Bryce McVicar of the Gore club took his chances on the 5.4km Hamilton Park course and with it the coveted Clutterbuck Cup for first over the line. The Gore club runner, starting with a 10:30 min handicap, reeled in the front starters and took the lead in sight of the finish line, but even then he didn’t ease up, winning by almost 100 metres.
The win also gave him the Walker Cup for first Gore club member home.
Bolger Cup for fastest time went to NZ Champs steeplechase bronze medallist Buddy Small for the second year in succession.
Kimberley Iversen (16) in a superbly judged and executed race finished seventh on handicap and recorded the fastest woman’s time.
While Hamilton Park has no hills to break runner’s rhythm the Gore club put a bit of country into crosscountry by placing hay bales requiring jumping at strategic parts of the course.
Steeplechasers like Small found them no obstacle, but for many it was a source of amusement for the large group of kids gathered like vultures, waiting for runners to trip, stumble or fall.
Meanwhile Southland athletes notched up a number of successes at the South Island Schools Crosscountry champs in Timaru.
Abby O’Boyle (Verdon) was second in the Year 9 race, Millie McFadzien (St Peters Gore) won the Junior Girls, Siena Mackley (Wakatipu HS) second in Senior Girls and teammate James Weber second in Junior Boys. (All 3km).
In the 3 x 1km relay the team of Mackley, Weber and McFadzien was first overall, and O’Boyle, Jorgia Tucker and Bea Christie crossed the line third overall and first girls-only team.
The South Island event was a good entrée to the main course in three weeks, the national secondary schools crosscountry champs in Palmerston North.
