Wildlife forces course change for peninsula race

Winner of the 18km race Louisa Andrew runs over the Highcliff Track on the Otago Peninsula during...
Winner of the 18km race Louisa Andrew runs over the Highcliff Track on the Otago Peninsula during the inaugural Head for the Hill race yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Not even an angry sea lion could stop Neale McLanachan from winning the inaugural men's 18km Head for the Hill run yesterday.

McLanachan, the winner of the 23km Peninsula Challenge the past two years, asserted his position at the front 10km into the race and crossed the line first in 1hr 24min 56sec to set the benchmark.

A sea lion caused a slight tweak to the course when it blocked the access track to Tomahawk Beach, sending organisers scrambling to re-route the course further down the road.

The change of course spared the runners the difficulty of running on soft sand after toppling the peninsula hills.

Richard Hendry was home second in the men's race in 1hr 35min 22sec, while Andy Willmont was third in 1hr 38min 39sec.

Louisa Andrew won the women's 18km race in convincing fashion, beating second-placed Shukuru Munro by more than 23min.

Andrew, who won two gold medals at the national road championships in Tauranga in September, clocked 1hr 43min 2sec on her way to the finish line.

Sue Cuthbert won the 13km run in 1hr 16min 44sec, while Michelle Moss won the 13km walk in 2hr 24min.

While there were only 15 entries this year, Russell Hurring, an experienced ultra-distance runner involved in organising the event, was confident it would grow in the future.

''It [entries] was somewhat disappointing but a lot of great events have had similar start-ups. The running calendar is very busy in November and Ariki Athletics are committed to growing the event to show people the wild beauty of the Otago Peninsula.''

The event was contending with the inaugural Queenstown International Marathon, which attracted almost 6000 competitors and was held on Saturday.

Next year's race would probably be held earlier in the year, Hurring said.

By Robert van Royen.

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