The frustration of missing a podium finish in the Motutapu Challenge last weekend played a role in Alan Funnell winning Dunedin's Karetai Challenge yesterday.
Last weekend, Funnell was leading the 15km Miners Trail section of the Motutapu event along with Wanaka's Andrew Town only to be undone by inadequate course markings that sent the pair a further 10km off-course.
"I was just so angry at how we were treated. I guess it all came out today," he said.
"It all keeps you young, I suppose. But it sure gave me motivation going up that hill."
Funnell (44), the garden manager at Glenfalloch, was an early leader along with Kerrin Williams, Anthony Rodger and Ray Knox, but 7km into the 16.5km event, Funnell put on the pace as the field entered the Karetai Track section.
Holding a minute lead at the top, he continued to pull away from the field to finish in 1hr 3min 51sec, 2min 36sec clear of second-placed Rodger, with Williams third in 1hr 7min 4sec.
Funnell burst on to the local running scene 11 years ago when he won the King of the Mountain race at East Taieri and has continued to feature in various events since.
First in the open women's section was Sue Cuthbert in 1hr 12min 2sec, from Barnes Cross-country champion Emma Lloyd second in 1hr 18min 7sec and Christine Montgomery third in 1hr 19min 20sec.
Second place was enough for Lloyd (17), a year 13 pupil at Columba College, to secure the Southern Coastal series title for open women.
Second was also good enough for Rodger in securing the open men's title in the two-race series that incorporated last month's Papatowai Challenge.
