Andrew Moore (Hill City) wins the Timebuster race around
the Octagon on Saturday. He was followed home by Toby Flett
and Ben Jowsey. Photo by Jane Dawber.
It was a historic 18th race.
Two runners in one race beat the 10 Dunedin Town Hall clock
chimes for the first time.
Andrew Moore (Hill City) won the annual 243m Timebuster
sprint around the Octagon in 33.04sec on Saturday and
club-mate Toby Flett was second in 34.14sec.
Both runners beat the 10 chimes that rang out in the city at
10am.
New Zealand 400m champion Cory Innes (Taieri) was the first
runner to beat the chimes when he ran a record time of
31.63sec last year.
He is competing in Australia and did not compete this year.
The women's race was won by Bethany Struthers (Taieri) in
38.39sec from Lauren Wilson (Hill City) in 38.90sec.
The sprint around the Octagon has become one of New Zealand's
unique foot races and is part of the entertainment for
Dunedin's annual market day.
Moore (24), a masters student in business at the University
of Otago, received the winner's cheque of $300 and an extra
bonus of $250 for beating the 10 chimes for the race that
started and finished outside the New Zealand Shop.
Flett also received a $250 bonus for beating the chimes on
top of his $150 for finishing second.
"I'm a struggling student and the cheque will pay a few of my
bills," Moore said.
Moore contested the race on one other occasion in 2004 when
he ran 36sec.
It gave him an insight into the tactics he needed to use.
He is a 400m specialist and recorded the fastest time in the
country this season when he clocked 46.95sec at Invercargill
last week.
"I wanted to get to the front as fast as I could and get to
the top of the hill first," Moore said.
"I could then relax down the slope and dictate the pace. It
was difficult for anyone to go around the outside."
The third of the 10 chimes rang out just after Moore reached
the top of the hill and the sixth chime was heard when he
passed the Regent Theatre.
"I couldn't hear the chimes but I could smell the aroma of
the hot dog stalls," Moore said.
The odds looked promising but the exhausting uphill stretch
to the finish was still to come.
"I thought it would last forever but the finish came a lot
quicker," he said.
"I looked up and saw the finish line and went for it. I had
relaxed down the hill and had more energy at the end."
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.