Long Course – seven legs – 67 km
Leg 1 Start to Mt Biggs School. 9.410 km. Record 29:25 (Matt Ingram)
The first 2.5km are relatively flat, then a steady climb for a total ascent of 137 metres. A fair bit of that ascent occurs in the last 900m with gradients of 8-10%. 10/10 on the hurt-factor by the time you handover at Mt Biggs School
Route fly thru
Leg 2 Mt Biggs School to Halcombe. 10.163km. Record 30:27, Dale Warrander
Mt Stewart-Halcombe Rd, turning right into James Rd (Short Course Lap 3 starts here), then a roly-poly section back to Mt Stewart Halcombe Rd and a fast last 1500 PB descent to Halcombe township
Note: There is a Railway crossing 200 metres prior to the end of this lap. The organisers have no ability to predict train schedules on this line. In the event of Warning bells sounding/barrier arms down a timing official will record those team members delayed and this time adjusted at the end of the leg accordingly.
Leg 3 Halcombe to Makino Rd via Tokorangi Rd. 9.781km. Record 30:27, Dale Warrander
Starts at 117m, flat for 1km then rolls around a bit for the first 5km before steadily climbing to finish at 183m. Total ascent is 116 metres. None of the hill is all that steep, just tends to go on a bit especially the last 1.6km.
Leg 4 Makino Rd to Makara Rd. 9.709km. Record 29:55, Dale Warrander
A deceptively tough leg – especially in a serious headwind, of which there’s always a 50/50 chance, with overall elevation gain of 61m. Don’t forget to turn right into Makara Rd!
Leg 5 Makara Rd to Halcombe 9.707km. Record 28:52, Mark Bowyer
A scenic run which includes a couple of km’s of unsealed road. No support vehicles are permitted to stop until the end of Makara Rd except in an emergency – penalties may apply to those flouting this rule.
Once off the gravel its pretty much all downhill for the next 6km to the next transition at Halcombe. Should be one of quickest runs on day in min/km’s.
Leg 6 Halcombe to Makino Rd via Mangaone Rd. 9.549km. Record 29:31, Kris Gemmell
An up and down leg for the first 5-6km, with total ascent of 121m, then undulating to flat until a steep descent over the last km to the handover to the last-lap runner.
Leg 7 Makino Rd to FINISH. 9.148km. Record 27:30, John Henwood
John Henwood won it for Scottish in 2002 with a blisteringly fast lap of 27 min 30 sec. The leg starts at 129 metres altitude and ends at 66m, overall gradient of -0.7%, so ideally set up for fast flowing running
SHORT COURSE -six legs – 38km
Under 20 Men & Women, Men 60+, Women 50+, Open Walk, Social & Composite
Lap 1, Manfield to Sandon Rd 6.53km. Record 21:29 Carl McKenzie
Pass under the Feilding Clocktower at 1km; at 2.5k turn in to Sandon Rd and begin a 45m climb to 4km, then mostly flat to the end
Lap 2, Sandon Rd to James Rd via Mt Biggs 7.091km. Record 23:26, Terefe Ejigu
Starts easy enough with a gentle downhill slope and slight rise to the 2km mark, Then it’s a 50m ascent for then next 800m to Mt Biggs School. Hang a right and it’s mostly flat through to the end
Lap 3 James Rd to Halcombe tennis courts 5.944km. Record 19:39 Greg Brockbank
Another Lap with a nice downhill start! At around 2km turn LEFT into Fergusson Rd for a 30m climb over the next 800m. Flattish until the last 1500m, which you should be able to PB with the 50m descent into Halcombe village to handover (Short course turns Right at the roundabout)
Note: There is a Railway crossing 200 metres prior to the end of Lap 3. The organisers have no ability to predict train schedules on this line. In the event of Warning bells sounding/barrier arms down a timing official will record those team members delayed and this time adjusted at the end of the leg accordingly.
Lap 4 Halcombe to 205 Mangaone Rd 7.147km. Record 22:16 Tim Hodge
Perhaps one of the toughest legs on the Short Course, as the climbs, while relatively short, keep coming at you. Has an overall ascent of 94 metres. If it was an out and back course you would easily negative split it. Pick a strong runner for this leg.
Lap 5 Mangaone Rd to Makino Rd (town) 7.255km. Record 21:16 Jake Robertson
Flat for 1.8km then the steepest section of the course – but we’ve been nice to you and made it a downhill – dropping 60m over the next 600m where you hang a left on to Makino Rd and head for town. Mostly flat to slightly downhill from here.
Lap 6, Makino Rd to End via West St 4.259km. Record 13:16 T.Hodge/Julian Matthews
The shortest and easiest and should be fastest leg in min/km. But if you are trying to hang on to a lead or chase, you will want one of your stars on this leg. After 400m, you will be marshalled right under the railway via a pedestrian underpass and out onto Lethbridge Rd.
On down to North St, where the only climb on the lap of a merely 6m takes you to the next Left into West St. Now a fast downhill gradient all the way to a left at Rata St and only 500 metres now to the finish – so really give it the jandal now
