Serena, Anne, Marlene, Dave W & myself left around 9.00am on Saturday from Serena’s farm with her driving her big campervan which was going to be our home for the next two days.
The Moratti girls were going across with Sandra, Theresa & Colin, Rachael was sick so couldn’t make it. Eric went with Alan & Des Hussey who was going to do his first Nationals under judges. Vanessa went with hubby Peter and were staying with family on the way and in Havelock Nth. 
Kate had asked Serena if she could come with her but she was too late with her request as the only bed available was with Wacky and Serena wisely decided that Lynda & Mike wouldn’t be too keen with this arrangement; so Katie ended going with Mike.
The trip down was uneventful and all of Serena’s wheels stayed on which was an added bonus for me. We arrived at the Cool Stores to pick up the race numbers etc. and arrived about 25 mins after the NZRWA AGM had started. Once that had finished we mingled chatting with other walkers/supporters/officials, picked up the numbers and left for the motor camp.
We had our carb loaded dinner and laughed and chatted until it was bed time. As I had to be up by 5.00am as Joff was picking me up at that time, there was a last minute list of instructions to go over again for the girls re strategy, concentration, relaxation and anything else I could think of, for their walk the next day. Anne & Serena were like highly tuned violin strings they were so uptight about walking under unknown judges and it was also the first time for them to walk legally for 20km.
I had drawn the short straw and my bed was up in the roof and what a struggle for me to get myself off the ladder through a small gap into the bed. Fortunately Marlene was already in there so could haul me in but not before Serena took a photo of my ‘Best Side’ which will not be shown, as this could frighten small children. Once inside the cubby hole there was a surprising amount of room for two adults.
Marlene’s alarm awoke me and I clawed my way back down again in the dark, got dressed and walked to await my lift outside the camp. I was carrying my bag full of wet weather gear as we had been told a lot of the frontage had been boxed in so there was not a lot of shelter. Needless to say the day was a scorcher with not a cloud to be seen and I didn’t need to have brought all that stuff.
I helped Joff set out the cones, fill the water containers, set up the drink station and bring down chairs for the lap recorders and put in power for the electronic timing etc. If I wasn’t there he would have had to this all on his own; no wonder he has called a finish to him doing this event from this excellent venue. If it has always been like this he deserves a medal for doing so every year since Jack died.
I met the other judges, got given my kit and position I was to be standing, given last minute instructions and went down below to be there for the start of the 50km race at 7.00am. Despite a nice warm sun rising it was still chilly for me and it wasn’t until around 9.00am that I felt comfortable enough to remove my mountain coat. During the start of the 50km event our walkers started to arrive. However people like Colin & Graeme were also judging with Sandra, Alan & Theresa as lap recorders so were also there early to be in position for the start.
All other distances raced started an hour after the 50km, so after 8.00am there were around 30 walkers going back and forth along the straight 1km course. Nicole was doing 1km and Deanna 2km and soon finished, walking impeccable as ever and spent the next 3hrs giving encouragement to the other Taranaki walkers.
Both Serena & Anne had grave misgivings about food/drink as they normally carry this on them when racing. They got the ok to carry food stuffs and leave their bottles at the water station. They still worried about this but the more experienced Marlene told them not to worry because Mike would be working the water station and “He is excellent” and so it turned out.
He covered more ground than the walkers I think as he was collecting thrown down bottles/cups etc as far as 50m away from the drink station. He had to do this on the run so he was back in position for the next people wanting drinks. He did such a good job that one walker from Nelson got up to say what a great job he had done amid loud applause for all the others. So well done for that Mike. Anne was so impressed that she said she wouldn’t bother about carrying a drink bottle again.
I couldn’t believe after all my instructions to them, Marlene & Serena chattered away with Phil Grimmet from Wellington as if they were on a pack walk; I stood there helpless with steam coming out of my ears. It was only when Shirley Barber passed them around 5km that Marlene decided to get serious but by then it was too late for any thoughts of breaking her own record.
Eric cruised around as his want and after completing his 10km, continued on to do the 20km as a non championship event. Wacky who had done a 5km warm up before the race to sort his knees out, got a few warnings in the early stages and then kicked into overdrive to finish in under the hour(although he wasn’t satisfied with that); he was more happy that he only got two DQs on the board. The fact there were 3 International and 4 A Grade judges out there shows how far he’s improving and should be an inspiration to other club members who have the same problem as him; just work at it.
Renee who hasn’t had a lot of walking this season had a battle with the girl from Auckland for 3km but fell back towards the end. Personally I don’t think this girl would have stood a chance had Renee been fully fit.
Vanessa was motoring around in the early stages but suddenly I noticed she had shortened her stride and was walking slower. I asked her why afterwards and she told me she felt this nerve pinching in the lower back so decided to slow down so as not to do any damage. She finished a couple of minutes over the hour and I ask myself “How come I can’t do that time with a bad back”?
I don’t know if the occasion got the better of Serena but after Marlene took off she seemed to struggle and after finishing the 10km distance, started to ‘curl up’ causing her knees to bend and was DQd after doing 15km. She was bitterly disappointed with herself afterwards but later became more philosophical about it saying “I knows what I have to do so just have to work on it.” Way to go Serena!
Katie walked well the whole 20km and it was good to see her able to finish two long races really well within a few weeks of each other, after having had a long time off with injury; she would have been pleased with her time as well I think.
Anne also walked well, very upright and straight legged and a mass of concentration on the job ahead (no chattering from her). She only got one caution during the 20km which thrilled her no end and was only a minute slower than the time we had set for her. It’s given her a goal now she knows she can do 20km without being DQd, of ramping up her speed.
Marlene hopefully will have learned a valuable lesson that when you are in a race, you race, keep the chat for afterwards. She was tiring towards the end but the fact Shirley was behind her kept her going to the end.
Although not a member of our club I thought Des Hussey from Stratford walked really well for 20km and he told me afterwards that he also only got one caution; so well done Des.
As our walkers finished and after a shower collected near the Start/Finish line and made a hell of a racket cheering on and encouraging all walkers not only our members; although it was louder for ours.
So Taranaki had 11 walkers, 3 judges, 3 lap recorders and a water boy at this event plus some supporters which was a great effort for all involved.
Many of our people stayed over for the meal and knees up which came highly recommended by Theresa but Marlene had to work and Serena milk, so it was home for us.
Wacky got us all safely back to Inglewood driving the van and it was a happy crowd of people that dispersed for their homes after another most enjoyable fun filled walking weekend.
Bystander
Results:
Race Walkers from Taranaki came away from Hastings on Sunday with 5 gold and 7 silver medals. Athletics New Zealand championships for the Road Race and Long Distance events were held at Whakatu, Hawkes Bay over distances ranging from 5km to 50km. Two championships in one were held because the original road champs were scheduled on the morning of the earthquake in Christchurch (4th September) and the opportunity was taken to combine them with the annual Long distance Championships.
In the road race championship, gold medals went to Vanessa Lowl (W45); Marlene White (W60); Dave Wackrow(M45) and Eric Kemsley(M55). Silver medals were achieved by Renee Moratti(W16); Katie Tahere(W40); Serena Coombes(W45); Anne Fraser(W55) and Des Hussey(M45). Juniors raced over 5km and all others raced 10km.
In the Long distance championship, Marlene White achieved a second gold by finishing first in the 20km W60 age group. Katie Tahere(W40) and Anne Fraser(W55) both also won a second silver each in their 20km walks.
All walkers performed exceptionally well representing the Taranaki Centre, with special achievements by Des Hussey, Serena Coombes and Anne Fraser who were all competing for the first time at a National event.
