Update - Sept 27 (Takahe report below)

Ultra distance running seminar.

Special guest speaker is Vajin Armstrong who will just have returned from representing New Zealand in the 2011 Commonwealth Ultra Trail Running Championships. Vajin is also winner of the 2010 Kepler Challenge and 2010 Motutapu Marathon.
An open and experienced speaker, Vajin shares a wealth of information on how to approach the world of Ultra-Running.

Topics include:

• How to train specifically for Ultra-distances
• The personal benefits of Ultra-Running
• Focus and concentration techniques

We encourage anyone with an interest in this topic to come along. It is free of charge, though registration is required as we need some indication of numbers. Please register your interest by phoning 377 1327 and leaving your name and phone number, otherwise please reply to this email.

Date: Friday 7 October
Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Venue: The Lotus-Heart Restaurant, 363 St Asaph Street

note : Vajin Armstrong is the athlete formerly known as Luke Armstrong .

  

Report from 71st Takahe /Akaroa relay(Sept 25 2011)
Saturday 24 Sept was a perfect spring day .A light Nor West breeze held temps around 16 degrees all day and provided tail winds on most laps . Perfect conditions for breaking records ; but none fell  .

                                                Chris F snapped Rodger W on Lap 5
more photos from the day Akaroa photos (Nesport )


We managed to get five full teams on the road (admittedly with some sanctioned runners on board ).None of our runners were DQ'd or incurred any time penalties . Notable outcomes from the day were :


- CHCH Avon retained "Club of the Year " status and were presented the Costley Spike at the after function.
- Bob Perry completed his 54 th participation in the relay .
- Our Junior Men got second place in the inaugural Junior event (out of seven teams) 
- Our MM team would have won the B grade but opted to run in the A grade.
-Our Vet Women got 3rd place .


-Robyn got 1st VW
-Jane got 2nd VW 
-Anne got 2nd V50
-Sue J got 1st V50
-Sue D got 2nd V50
-Matt D got 2nd overall on his lap
-Nick got 2nd overall on his lap
-John Gam -got 1st M50
-Perrin -3rd SM
-Rich S -2nd MM
-Mike -3rd M50
-Iain -3rd M50
-Denis -2nd M50
-Cameron A-2nd fastest JM
-Jacob Reese/Jones- 2nd fastest JM
-Matt P- 2nd fastest JM
-Josh Kokich- fastest JM
-Anthony-1st M50


Thanks to the following invited runners:
Jo Nunnerly (unaff )
Andrew Woodward (Rovers)
John Norton (Wesley)
Nick Perry (ex CHAV)
Annabel Sheppard (ex CHAV)


The prizegiving was very enjoyable in the sun, and the grass was totally free of goose reminders.
Dan Reese and John Gamblin were competent and lively presenters .The complimentary afternoon tea was provided by a local group as a fundraiser and was very welcome.The kids at the sandwich stations put the 'hard sell' on their particular fillings, as we could only choose one of four types .I had two tickets , so double dipped after a wardrobe change disguise.I think one of the ladies at the tea station suspected, but didn't say anything .


Results were out on the pavilion by late afternoon, and officially on the website by mid evening : fantastic work.There was the usual crowd of people straining to see results over other people's  shoulders. Personally, I was surprised to see that I'd run 7 seconds faster than Jane P on lap 8 . Woo hoo. (she later said that she'd had an average run )


There weren't a huge number of teams (48 including Juniors) but most of them were at the prizegiving . One comment would be that the teams as listed in the programme had little resemblance to many that actually ran.This list is made up 2 weeks before the event and inevitably gets changed as teams evolve in the lead -up to race day. It might be better to ditch this practice and simply put an evolving list up on the web which clubs could print out a day before the race . As things are now the only reliable thing about any team is it's race number .

Race bibs this year were 'lap specific '  - an innovation of John Gamblin's.
Two or three of our teams won alcohol spot prizes . Members of teams who didn't go right through to Akaroa dont partake of their team share.You need to be 'on the spot' to claim a spot prize. Speights cider was very pleasant.
Finally a big thanks to John Ingles who got our marshalling party together to look after the Cooptown changeover . Why can't Christchuch just let us have a full road closure every year on this day ??


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CHCH Avon runners are always taking part in events outside of the city , news of which often doesn't reach us .Selena  is off to Australia for another orienteering comp.
Rodger recently ran the Kaikoura Half Marathon and James joined a team for the Queen Charlotte relay in Nelson.
Robyn is in training for a long off-roader near Nelson next month .
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BREAKING NEWS - CANTERBURY WIN THE PHIL COSTLEY SHIELD sept 19 - In hot conditions at Blenheim today, the Primary Sports Canterbury Cross Country Team have won the Phil Costley Shield and once again been crowned Inter-Regional Cross Country
Champions.  Canterbury Teams managed to win 6 of the 8 grades and claim a comprehensive overall victory.  CONGRATULATIONS to Paul Norton, the PSC team and all of the CHAV runners who took part on this AWESOME achievement.