April 2009:
By Stu Gourdie
Sunday morning the 6th of April dawned fine and chilly as many of us travelled over to Havelock North for the annual running of the Hastings half Marathon.
With a 7.30 am start many of the walkers from our club enjoyed the cooler conditions for that first hour. Granny aka Pat Davis took off at the start like a house on fire but faded at the end but still recorded a respectable time of 2 hrs 52 mins. Most of our members started conservatively but started to accelerate through that second hour and completing the 21.1 km course in beautiful conditions and in a time of under 3 hours.
Stu Gourdie registered an impressive time of 2 hrs and 43 mins with singer Mike Sheely not too far behind in 2 hrs and 46 mins. Of the ladies Julie Gourdie did 2 hrs 52 mins with Heather Ballyntyne completing her first half in 3 hrs and 56 mins. Sue Sheely rounded off our group in 2 hrs and 57 mins.
We then all enjoyed sitting round in the sun watching prize giving as Joff secured the top men’s prize and Robyn Galloway being the first women home. A great event on a beautiful Hawke’s Bay day.
