September 2009: For those of you interested in giving race walking a go, read on:
(From Joff Hulbert)
On the Sunday of Labour Weekend the Athletics New Zealand Long Distance Race Walking Championships and a series of Non-Championship races will be held at Whakatu, Hastings. Joff is the race director.
Below is a blurb for the Non-Championships races.
There are 2 "events":
The first is a championship event where normal walk judging and rules apply. In the past this event has been used as a Commonwealth Games trial. Details of the Championship races can be found on the Athletics New Zealand web site at www.athletics.org.nz
The second is a non championship event. The distance is your choice. Here the walkers are judged (and yes we have judges who judge at an international level) and are then advised how they stack up; all walkers in this event can complete their race.
I think those of us who walk at Run Walk HB would enjoy and would benefit from entering the non championship event. Some too could well enter the championship event and complete with flying colours.
Walking on a short circuit is far more interesting and less threatening than you would imagine. There is constant encouragement from the lap scorers and supporters and you can actually see what is happening. You are not isolated a long way from everyone else during the race. Also there is a good social aspect to this walkers only event before, during and afterwards.
So come on, enjoy yourself and enter this event and make Joff earn his keep.
New Zealand Long Distance Walking Championships
SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2009 AT WHAKATU, HASTINGS
NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACES ONLY
These non-championship races are intended to cater for a wide range of walkers, including those who may have had little or no previous exposure to judged race walking.
All walkers will be judged according to the IAAF Rules, BUT the rules for the non-championship races only will be modified to allow all walkers to complete their race, even those who would normally be disqualified and removed from the course.
The results of the non-championship races will be split into two divisions, with one division being recognised as “Race Walkers” and the other as “Other Walkers”.
This will allow all walkers to receive valuable feedback on their technique without risk of having their race cut short. Non-championship walkers are always able to complete the full distance.
This gives the opportunity to record a time over an accurately measured flat, fast course. The course is a 1 km lap and you have the opportunity to participate in the recognised Olympic and Commonwealth Games distances, from 20 to 50km’s. While a 1km course may appear daunting, the multi-lap format allows the athlete to be self-supported with access to toilets, their own drinks and food and any of their other requirements on each lap. The multi-lap format also allows all competitors to watch the race unfold, rather than walkers becoming spread out over many kilometres.
This is the same course that Tony Sargisson walked on to qualify for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, prior to going on to win Silver at Melbourne. Apart from Tony, another regular competitor in the championship event is the NZ record holder on the old 100km course at Taupo. A regular competitor in the non-championship event won the 100km walk at Taupo in 2008 (also the old course).
DISTANCES – YOUR CHOICE
To make the non-championship races accessible to everyone, there will be a wide choice of distances. The choice is largely over to the individual. The suggested distances for senior walkers are 10km, 15km, 20km, 30km and 50km.
COACHING SESSION
The day before the races, a non-compulsory racewalking coaching session will be held. This is aimed at preparing new walkers for what they will experience in their race the next day. This is not intended to overwhelm new walkers with a mass of racewalking theory; rather it is aimed at explaining what the judges do and the difference between judging the championship event, where walkers could be disqualified for improper technique, and judging the non-championship event were walkers will not be disqualified. This will include a short (1km) practice race to see how it works in practice, and further discussions will follow. Explanatory materials will be included in the entry fee.
PROGRAMME
Saturday 24 October
2:00pm coaching session
Sunday 25 October
7:00am All 50km.
7:00am All non-championship races over 20km’s
8:00am All other Championship Races – 10km, 15km and 20km.
9:00am All non-championship races up to 20km’s.
VENUE
The races will be held at the Turners & Growers Enza Coolstore complex at Whakatu, about midway between Hastings and Clive. On Saturday, access is off the end of Groome Place, which is a short road running off Station Road. (There is also a Railway Road, so don’t get confused. To make it more confusing, there is a railway but there is no station.) During the racing, on Sunday, access will be confined to the gates at the western end of the venue.
This will keep the racing circuit totally free of all traffic.
Please forward your entry including payment to:
Non Championship Entry,
NZ Long Distance Walks Championships,
C/o Run Walk Hawkes Bay,
P. O. Box 537,
NAPIER.
You may also email your entry to ghulbert@clear.net.nz and pay on the day. No Late fee in this case
Please make cheques out to “Athletics Hawke’s Bay Gisborne”.
ENTRY FEES: Non-championship races only.
5km to 50km $25.00 Late Fee $5.00
These fees include the coaching session and the handouts that will be provided.
NORMAL ENTRIES (Non-Champs) CLOSE Saturday 10 October.
LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED ON THE DAY ON PAYMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL $5.00. Further information can be obtained from Joff Hulbert email on ghulbert@clear.net.nz
ENTRY FORM FOR THE NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
TO BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ATHLETICS NEW ZEALAND LONG DISTANCE WALKS CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2009
(NOT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRIES)
NAME: ………………………………………………
DATE OF BIRTH ……………………..……….
ADDRESS ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
PHONE …………………………………..
MOBILE PHONE ………………..………………………..
EMAIL ADDRESS ………………………………………………..…………………………….
SEX: MALE / FEMALE (Please circle one)
RACE DISTANCE ………………. Km
COACHING SESSION
I intend to attend the Coaching Session YES / NO on Saturday 24 October. (Please circle one)
ENTRY FEE enclosed. $ ……………………..….
(Make cheques payable to Athletics Hawke’s Bay Gisborne)
($25.00 for all distances from 5km to 50km)
Please post to
Non Championship Entry,
NZ Long Distance Walks Championships,
Run Walk Hawkes Bay,
P. O. Box 537,
NAPIER.
