Marathon: Nice weather and a marathon win too | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

As a helicopter pilot with the New Zealand Air Force based in Ohakea, Peter Familton relies a lot on ideal weather conditions to make successful expeditions.

It's the same with his marathon running.

"Put it down to a nice day and nice scenery ... we haven't had weather like this in Palmerston North for six or seven years," quipped Familton as he reflected on his men's open win in the Hawke's Bay Marathon which took in the roads around Havelock North and Tukituki on Saturday.

In his first attempt at the event, which was his second marathon, Familton, 26, recorded a winning time of 2h 49m 57s. He only took up marathon running this year.

"After three Ironman Triathlons at Taupo, I decided that was enough for me. I'm sticking with marathons from now on and I'll return to the Bay next year with the aim of retaining my title," said Familton who won by almost seven minutes.

Before taking up triathlons, Familton described himself as "pretty much non active" on the sporting front.

Hamilton's Erin Furness retained her open women's title with a time of 3h 10m. It was her third Hawke's Bay Marathon and she finished third in 2009. "This was a warm-up event for me in the build-up to the November world triathlon champs in Las Vegas."

The annual marathon involved a variety of half marathon and marathon running and walking events. It attracted 381 starters, slightly less than last year and the fact the Taupo off-road half marathon event was staged on Sunday was a factor.

Hawke's Bay's Graeme Jones won the men's open walk and 35-39 years titles in 3h 44m 53s and fellow Bay starter Robyn Wolfsbauer won the female open walk and 50-59 years titles in 4h 56m 54s.

Hawke's Bay walking stalwart Joff Hulbert won the men's 60plus title in 4h 42m 41s.