After competing in the Auckland Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Harry Linford topped off another great weekend by comfortably winning the Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun Run/Walk held in Paihia on Sunday. The 8.7km run course took the competitors from Paihia through to above the Waitangi Golf Course, returning through the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to the finish line in Paihia. Even suffering from shin splints did not deter Linford from clocking up an impressive time of 29.20 in the 8.7km event. Whangarei’s Tim Goodwin was second home in 30.49 with Louis Young (Warkworth) third in 32.02 and Neil Stocker (Whangarei) in fourth place.

Carolyn Younger (Whangarei) had an impressive run to take the women’s title by almost four minutes in 32.43. Second home was Katie McVerry (Whangarei) in 36.34 minutes with Ruth Hutchinson (Whangarei) in third place and Whangarei Girls High School student Courtney Crum fourth.

After early morning showers Paihia turned on great weather for the 1,200 competitors who ran or walked over one of two distances available. Many wore the red Jennian Homes shirts in support of women’s heart health in the ‘Go Red for Women’ Heart Foundation promotion.

Winners of the best fancy dress were Lisa Hill from Kaitaia and Gary Robinson Whangarei who captured the attention of the judges by dressing as Jennian Houses.

Thousands of dollars’ worth of spot prizes were given away with Jasmine Kitchen from Whangarei taking home the popular ladies cruiser bike from Mybike in Whangarei and Jody Wills from Kerikeri the iPad mini from NorthCloud.

All Northland adults who competed gained another entry into the draw to win the Mazda 2 from Pacific Motor Group which will be drawn following the last event in the Sport Northland Run/Walk Series – the ASB Kerikeri Half Marathon on 19 November.  

The next event in the Sport Northland Run/Walk series will be the Dargaville Veterinary Centre Baylys 2 Dargaville Run/Walk 6.8km or a 12km run/walk on Sunday 12 June. Entries are now open online at www.runwalkseries.co.nz