Norm Read Memorial Race 2009
2009 is the 50th Jubilee of the Taranaki Race Walking Club. The Club will be celebrating this milestone on a number of occasions during the year. However the running of the 2009 Norm Read Memorial Race was one of the year’s main highlights. This was only appropriate as Norm Read was one of the corner stones of the success of the Club. Accordingly it was a real privilege to welcome 26 walkers to the starting line. A number of out of town visitors and old members were also there.
The weather came to the party and produced a warm and calm day—excellent for good walking times. However, this is an estimated time event so walkers had to take the conditions into account when estimating their time.
A number of walkers use these types of events to walk to a set time rather than as fast as they can go. This also applied to a number of walkers who are preparing for the Rotorua Marathon. Their warm up was to walk a half-marathon in the morning! Accordingly they estimated a slower time.
Regardless of how walkers estimated their time, they did a pretty good job. Fifteen of the 26 starters finished within a minute of their estimated time. Fastest walker of the day was Mike Parker in 52:32. Tony Burrell won the Norm Read Memorial Cup finishing within one second of his estimated time—1:04:15 v 1:04:14—and this time he didn’t have a watch on!!! Well done Tony.
Following the Norm Read race was the Jubilee Social Walk. This was an opportunity for older members, retired members and social walkers to walk as many laps of the Kaimata Street circuit as they wanted to. An amazing 65 walkers completed at least one lap! A number of old members looked like they had never stopped walking and some should be considering rejoining the Club.
Jubilee medals and certificates were awarded to all participants.
A big thanks to all our helpers especially Tony Vaughan for his help on traffic management.
A big thanks to all who participated—you helped get the celebration of our Jubilee of to a spectacular start.
Following the walking was the Jubilee Dinner at the Plymouth Hotel. It was fantastic to see 110 members, ex-members, friends and partners all enjoying themselves. A lot of old acquaintances were reignited. The hotel looked fantastic with the room and tables decorated in the Club’s colours (black and white). The history of the Club was displayed on the walls and tables and many a smiling face was spotted as memories were relived.
There was a formal section of the evening which included:
Eric’s presidents Speech
Brian O’Shea’s recollection of the Club history
Mike Parker’s recollections of Norm Read and presentation from Race Walking Auckland
Wally Gillum’s speech on behalf of Taranaki athletics
Graeme Harvie’s Patron’s speech
Meagan’s presentation of the Norm Read Memorial Cup
The reading of messages from those not present
A great night was had by all.
The weekend’s activities were finished off with a Sunday morning pack walk along the beautiful walkway and morning tea.
Special thanks go out to the Jubilee organising Committee (Mike Nield, Trevor Suthon and Brian O’Shea) for their hard work.
"As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round."
Ben Hogan.
Results:
