With the tracks dry on the mountain, this year’s Raglan Karioi Trail was always going to be a fast race.
Winner, Bobby Dean from Paengaroa, broke the 24km race record by seven minutes, running up and down the mountain twice in just two hours and 42 seconds.
Organiser Francois Mazet, who also competed this year for the first time, said Bobby’s performance was amazing. “Bobby won by 15 minutes.” Said Francois.
Raglan resident Rodrigo Jaca Gonzalez came second (2:57:27).
Previous record holder Sjors Corporaal (2:49:54) was supposed to run but had got injured in the week. His son, Kaya, ran instead, coming in fifth place overall and first in the men’s U18 division.
Sjors reckons he will be back next year to get his record back, says Francois. So the chase continues.
A new record was set in the 10km race also. Aucklander Keon Hall, who turned 14 this week, beat Raglan local Reuben Kendall’s old record by two minutes.
Francois says it was the first time in RKT’s 5 year history that a couple won the men’s and women’s 24km races.
Bobby’s partner, Anna Barrett, was the first woman home, finishing in at 3:46:55.
More than 200 people competed in RKT, with the most registrations in the 24km men’s race and then the 10km women’s race.
“The 10km walk is getting popular, too, and the 2km kids race still gets the same enthusiasm!
“Lots of family are running the event. When you look at the results you see one parent in the 24km, the other one in 10km with one kid, and another kid in the 2km! This is what we like to see, people enjoying Karioi and sharing this passion of running on it with their kids.”
Raglan Rippers Ngakau Benseman, 13, and Cory Hartgill, 12, won the 24km relay race, while Raglan doctor Mike Loten and his son, Sam, 12, came second.
“We had lots of kids running the 10km. Most of them started in the 2km four years ago and now they are running the 24km relay or 10km. We had six girls and six boys under 14 running the 10km race.”
The 10km walk was won by Matt Pennell, from Hamilton (2:17:28)
Chester Opperman, from Hamilton, won the 2km kids race, ahead of Flynn McGregor from Raglan. Renee Sweetman, from Raglan, won the girls’ division.
As for Francois, he placed second in his division, the men’s 40-59 age group, in the 24km race, 12th overall.
“I was mostly smiling all the way! I reckon it’s less tiring to run 24km than being race director.”
Next year Raglan Karioi Trail will take place Saturday 8th December 2018. Follow their Facebook page to stay informed. Earlybird registrations will open in June.
