Saturday Club Events
- We start 1.30pm sharp for all local events except where advised. Arrive 20-30 minutes before the start to warmup and check out the course
- Afternoon tea is held after each run followed by results, awards and Club notices. All members are urged to bring a plate to share in a roster for teapot and dishes duties.
The season is more or less divided into two parts. Based on member feedback last season, the Program Committee have extended the popular Cross Country phase by a couple of weeks. Most weeks see a different venue, different challenges but the same friendly bunch of Feilding Moa members to spur each other along.
April-July: Cross Country. Always on whether its sunny, windy or stormy
Cross-country events are the feature of the first half of the season. We are fortunate to have the use of a variety of farm courses around the district. Farms such as Woodruffes and Vautiers have been part of the Moa calendar for over 50 years. We also use Timona Park and other runner friendly locations in and about the Manawatu. In early July some members will head to Taupo for the North Island Cross Country Champs – one of the largest cross country events in NZ.
Late July-October: Road racing and Relays
We “hit” the roads from July, including hosting clubs from the region to the annual Halcombe Relay. Our season concludes with Club Road champs at Beaconsfield and annual prize-giving to follow.
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Training Runs
Palmerston North Training runs with Rob from April:
Tuesday 5:30pm, Manawaroa St entrance to the Esplanade. Focus on tempo and hills
Tuesday 6:15pm, Striders run from Hockey turf carpark, 40min-1 hour
Thursday 5:30pm, Massey University all weather track. Focus on interval training and fun
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Please advise the Club Captain if you have a specific medical condition we need to be aware of e.g. asthma, epilepsy…
Club Uniform
Yellow and black singlet with Feilding Harriers and a picture of a Moa on the front and black shorts. Club members must wear the official club uniform within one month of joining when taking part in harrier events, unless an exception has been approved by the Club Captain prior to the event.
Singlets are purchased from the Uniform co-ordinator Karen Manninen on club days for $25 (juniors) and $30-35 (size 14 and upwards). Inquire about crop tops thru Karen.
Grades
Our club races include the following grades (some outside events and Centre Champs may include additional grades such as Masters)
Men 20 and over
Women 20 and over
Masters 50+
Junior Men 18-19 years
Colts 14-17 years
Junior women 14-19 years
Boys/Girls 7-13 years
MiniMoa boys and girls 6 years old and under
PLEASE NOTE: beginner children can always run the shorter Minimoa distance until they get used to the 2-3km the 7-13’s usually do
Age for competition is what you are at 31 December. For example if you are currently 13 but will be 14 before the end of this year, you compete as a 14-17 Colts or 14-19 junior women grade from the first race.
Moa Race Rules
1. Do not interfere with the progress of other competitors.
2. For Cross Country races (XC) Go between the markers where there are two markers, otherwise within 5 metres of a single marker
3. On road runs, unless otherwise instructed, keep to the right and within 1m of the road edge
Trophies & Awards
Throughout the season we conduct scratch or handicap races (see FAQ’s below). Handicap races reward participants for week on week improvement and the trophy winner could be anyone in the race on the day – Feilding Moa aims to cater for all levels of fitness, gender and age.
Annual Handicap Points Award
There is an annual award for the person in each grade who has accumulated the most points over the season. The first person in a race receives as many points as there are financial members in the grade at the time of the last handicap race of the season, second home receives one less point and so on with the last finished receiving the least points. Regular attendance will ensure you accumulate maximum points
Eligibility for points
- be a financial member (paid the sub PRIOR to the race)
- compete in the correct grade unless approval to compete in another grade is first granted by the management committee
- participate in at least one previous RACE of the current season before you can be awarded a trophy or points in a handicap event
- Running out of uniform without dispensation from the Club Captain may result in points being deducted
Eligibility for Club Championship Title
In recognition that Club Champion is a prestigious title, to be eligible to win Championship you must have competed in at least TWO recognised club cross country events prior to the XC Champs and TWO or more road events prior to the Road champs
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Harriers? How far do you run?
Harriers is generally characterised as middle to long distance running (and walking) events. These can range from cross-country events to road races with a large degree of variety between each event. At Feilding Moa we usually have 8-13 year olds doing 2-3km, women and juniors 4-6km and others 6-10km.
- Pack runs
These are the life-blood of the club and usually held every week of the season, even when centre and other events are being held on the same weekend. Club runs are social events with packs to suit all abilities/paces. Make sure you bring a plate to restore the spent energy at the afternoon tea following the run! There is also a Wednesday group which run from outside M&J Shoes on Kimbolton Rd, Feilding at 6pm.
- Manawatu-Wanganui Centre events
Are inter-club events open to Registered club members. We are part of the Manawatu-Wanganui Centre encompassing clubs such as Levin, Palmerston North Harriers, Manawatu Striders and Wanganui Harriers.
- Scratch races
Runners in each grade start together, racing head to head. Early in the season we hold scratch races to enable our handicappers to rank the field for handicap races that follow. Whatever style of race on the day we ask participants to always give their very best effort.
- Handicap races
Handicap races provide a level “running field” for runners of all abilities. If you are new to Moa, you will very soon learn to absolutely love handicap racing! Once you have run 1-2 scratch races, our handicappers will determine your relative position among other athletes in the same grade. There are two kinds of handicap race during the season:
- a) Open handicap: start times are staggered. The ‘slowest’ runner going off first, then various time gaps through to the ‘fastest’ or backmarker. But First person across the line wins. The challenge for each runner is to pass but not be passed. If the handicapper has got things right and everyone runs to potential, this style of race sees the field start to bunch up on each other over the closing stages of the race and some well fought out finishes.
- b) Sealed handicap: the handicapper assigns handicaps, but keeps them to himself!
Everyone starts at the same time. As can be expected, the ‘top’ runners take off, and the rest of us do our best to stay in sight. At the finish line the handicapper adjusts actual time with their pre-determined handicaps. The winner is the one whose time is fastest after adjusting the handicap. This form of racing provides a great environment and reward for each athlete to perform to or exceed their previous best.
PS, it pays to stay on the good side of the handicapper!