Napier Harriers run away with trifecta | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

The Hawke's Bay-Gisborne road running championship was held at Westshore in breezy conditions on Saturday.

The first championship race was for boys and girls 12 and under over a distance of 2.4km with Napier Harriers taking the first three placings in the boys grade. Bradley Christison continued his good form by easily winning his race in 8:34sec from his younger brother, Thomas, in 9:21. Napier's Joshua Keating was third in 9:29.

In the girls' 12 and under grade, Hastings United secured first and second placings with Monique Way also continuing her winning form this year in 10:07 from Aishlin McIntye in 11:10. Napier's Zara Keighley was third in 11:33.

The boys and girls' 14 and under race over 3km resulted in a good win for Napier's Georgia Creagh in the girls grade. She ran herself to a full stop to win in 11:41 from her clubmate Laura Langley in 11:54 with another clubmate Louise Hancock third in 14:49. Creagh is a year younger than her race mates so this was a great effort.

The boys race was won by Napier's Devon Beckman in 10:30 after a close tussle with Shamus Christison who was seven seconds behind. Jordan Allan-Wright completed the Napier trifecta in 10:49.

Toa Elphick-Iaveta of Napier retained his boys 16 and under title by easily winning his 5km race in 16:52 from Gisborne's Campbell Parkinson in 18:58. Napier's Ieuan Edmonds was third in 20:28.

The girls 16 and under race was won by Napier's Holly Manning but she could not claim the provincial title as she isn't a registered runner with Athletics New Zealand. The title went to Anneka Smith of Hastings United in 21:03 followed closely by Napier's Annie Creagh in 21:08 and clubmate Holly Edmonds in 21:48.

A classy run by Grace McConnochie from Gisborne Harriers over 5km ensured she won the girls 19 and under grade in 18:12 from Hastings Monica Burnard in 19:29.

Another Hastings runner Nikki Powell was third in 20:15 while Napier's Charlie Chittenden won the boys 19 and under grade in 17:49.

Hastings United Harriers' Phil McKay (40-44yrs) won the Masters title for men over 35 years over 10km in 38:01 followed by Napier's 60-year-old Eric Phimister in 39:06 with Derek Solomon from Gisborne third in 39:35.

Hastings also won the Masters Women's grade with Andrea Williams winning in 20:20 over her 5km distance from Margaret Morris in 23:51 and Napier's Cheryl Simpson was third in 24:37.

The senior women's race over 10km was won by Gisborne's Megan Grant in 43:28 while unregistered runner Keiko Hashiba from Napier filled second spot.

In the senior men's 10km race, Napier's Stefan Smith coasted to a comfortable win in 32:21 but since he is registered with the Wellington Centre he could not claim the HBG title which went to Napier's Eric Speakman who ran a steady race to claim the title in 33:48 from clubmate James Bell in 37:19.

The runners selected for the national road running championship in Wellington on August 20 are: Toa Elphick-Iaveta, Grace McConnochie, Monica Burnard, Nikki Powell, Anneka Smith, Phil McKay, Eric Phimister, Andrea Williams, Eric Speakman, Neville Smith. Stefan Smith will be running for Wellington.