Taking
on and defeating the Kiwis has become a passion for many Aussies
and 21 ADF athletes
are no different.
The group recently returned from a tour of New Zealand accounting
for their military rivals and taking on the best civilian
runners in the NZ National Road Relay Championship.
The tour began on the north island where the three teams of
seven runners (Men’s Open, Women’s Open and Men’s
Veteran) raced against the RNZAF in an 8km road race, held
in some of New Zealand’s finest weather conditions (ie
sideways rain, strong gusty wind and about 8 degrees).
In the ladies race, CPL Stephanie Hall showed her class, winning
by nearly two minutes from NZ defence civilian Sue Marfell,
with Darwin’s LT Kelly McFarlane third.
The ADF runners easily account-ed for the team’s result
filling 7 out of the top 10 spots.
In the men’s race it was going to be tough for the Aussies
to take individual honours with LAC Kim Hogarth, the NZ national
3km stee-plechase champion lining up.
Navy’s SBLT Rowan Walker took the race right up to FLTLT
Hogarth but in the end Hogarth was too strong and pulled away
to take the win.
RAAF’s FLTLT Richard Gardiner ran a well-judged race
to place third. In the Vets, ADF civilian Richard McQuire-White
took the honours with SGT Rob Combe 40 seconds back in third.
The ADF again won the teams event.
The second race was conducted on the south island near Nelson,
with 138 teams in the event.
In what was a tough day out for all concerned the Men’s
Open team managed to take out second place in B Grade, with
the Vets and Women’s teams putting in creditable perform-ances
despite not featuring in the placings.
