Dale tames peaks in comfortable win

Competitors leave the starting line of the Three Peaks Mountain Race at Woodhaugh St yesterday.
Competitors leave the starting line of the Three Peaks Mountain Race at Woodhaugh St yesterday.
Gavin Dale has conquered Dunedin’s hills in an impressive display of endurance.

The Fairlie runner clocked 5hr 22min to win the Three Peaks Mountain Race Plus One event yesterday morning.

Dale gave a smile and a thumbs up as he reach the top of Mount Cargill — the last of the three climbs — before crossing the finish line at Chingford Park as a comfortable winner of the 55km race.

Ruth Croft, who won the women’s category, followed him in to place second overall in 5hr 33min.

Both broke course records.

Cameron Kerr was third in 5hr 43min.

Eventual winner Gavin Dale, of Fairlie, competes in the open 18 to 34 55km during the Three Peaks...
Eventual winner Gavin Dale, of Fairlie, competes in the open 18 to 34 55km during the Three Peaks race near Mount Cargill yesterday. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH
In the traditional 26km race, Kristy Eyles won a tightly fought open women’s title.

The Caversham runner crossed the finish line in 2hr 41min 41sec, just 1min 5sec ahead of second-placed Kirsty Coombs.

Sophie Wilkinson followed 2sec behind Coombs in third.

Alex Gorrie claimed a more convincing win in the men’s race.

His time of 2hr 11min 24sec put him nearly 5min ahead of second-placed Harry Wagner, while Liam Chesney was another minute back in third.

The race began early yesterday morning and took runners to the top of three of Dunedin’s highest peaks — Flagstaff, Swampy Summit and Mount Cargill.

The plus one event was added to the programme in 2020, taking runners on an additional loop and adds in a climb atop Pulpit Rock.

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