Brenda Ballinger Memorial May 2006
It is never easy walking on grass, but this event organised by Energy City Harriers is too important to miss. Everyone remembers Brenda for her incredible love of life, her non-stop enthusiasm and competitive nature.
I first met Brenda in about 1988; I had a spare seat in the car for the Taumaranui half marathon. She travelled over in the back seat, but long legs dangling in the front seats. What a quiet young lady she was; resting up before the half. She won the women’s event that day in 35 minutes quicker than me (yes I was running that day). I took a different person back to New Plymouth – this bubbly, noisy, fun person bounced into the car and I realised I had met the real Brenda!
Our paths crossed many times over the years, mostly I would hear her long before I saw her. Often it would be up the top road. Our group would leave early in the morning, Brenda’s group an hour or so later. On the way back, we would hear her coming but not see her for about 5 minutes. We miss you Brenda.
As I said, it is never easy walking over grass and suits some walkers better than others. Ones like myself carry too much weight and sink into the surface, rather than float over it.
The course is only 2 laps of 2k, so one that you have to go hard out from the start if you want to win. The start is on handicap and if all goes well, most finish very evenly. On Saturday there was only 1 minute between the 1st placing and the 13th. The winner was a very deserving Odette Herbert, who took 1 minute off her PB. She edged a very fast finishing Dennis Hastie by 3 seconds, who also took 1 minute off his PB. Anne Fraser was first home for Energy City, finishing a very creditable 8th overall. It is very pleasing to see 3 relative newcomers do so well in an event. All 3 have joined Taranaki Race Walkers this year and appear to be thriving on the competition.
Many thanks to Energy City for putting on a very well organised event and taking the trouble to accommodate the walkers.
