Note: new course for 2026
Venue
Race headquarters is situated at Houghton Valley School Hall. 110 Houghton Bay Road, Houghton Bay, Wellington. All races start, and finish, on the school playing field. No dogs are permitted on the school grounds.
Course description
The course covers sports playing fields and a grass track with steep uphill / downhill gradients. The entire race is off road. Runners use the left hand side of the uphill and downhill grass track to safely avoid other runners. There are 4 races run over four distances ranging from 1.5 km to 7.5 km (3 loops/each loop is 2.5k).
Race times
- 1:00pm
- 5km: MW60 | MW65 | MW70 | MM60 | MM65 | MM70 (elevation gain 150m)
- 2.5km WU16 | WU18 |WU 20 | MU16 | MU18 | MU20 | NON CHAMP 20 - 59 (elevation gain 75m)
- 1:45pm
- 1.5km: GU10 | BU10 (elevation gain 45m)
- 2:10pm
- 2.5km: GU12 | GU14 | BU12 | BU14 (elevation gain 75m)
- 2:35pm
- 7.5km: SW | MW 35 | MW 50 | SM | MM35 | MM 50 (elevation gain 225m)
Entry information
Athletics New Zealand Sanctioned Event: Only Athletics NZ registered athletes who are financial full competition members in the ANZ GameDay database are eligible to compete. Athletes must be financial in GameDay by 11.59pm Thursday 21st May 2026 in order to compete.
Race bibs
You must be financial in ANZ GameDay as stated above to receive a race bib. If you are financial by 8:00pm Sunday 17th May, you will receive a personalised race bib. If you are financial after 17th May and up to 21st May, you will receive a temporary race bib, which must be returned after the race. Race bib pick up (for Clubs) at the school hall on race day, 23rd May from 11:30am. Individual club registered runners outside the Wellington Centre must email entries to the race director by 21st May: to both whacracedirector@gmail.com and daryl@fedude.co.nz .
A club representative must collect race bibs for their respective members at the school hall by 12.30pm. No current bib and timing chip means you will not be recorded in the results. Race bibs will again be used for each of the remaining AW winter series races. The bibs will have Athletics Wellington timing chips and must be worn on the front of the athlete’s club singlet. Timing chips must be left securely on the front of the bibs.
Entry Fees
Athletics Wellington clubs will be invoiced after the event according to the number of individuals completing the races. Other clubs pay with entry.
Entry fees for ANZ Registered Club Members are as follows:
- Boys and Girls U10, U12, U14 and U16 $11.50
- All other grades $16.00
Age Grades and Club Uniform
Age on 31st December 2026; except Masters’ grades where age is at 23rd May 2026.
As this event is only open to Registered Club Members, the correct club uniform must be worn.
Any athlete wishing to compete “out of grade” (e.g. junior in senior grade), must advise the Race Director, Paul Hewitson whacracedirector@gmail.com and Daryl Bloomfield daryl@fedude.co.nz by 5:00pm Thursday 21st May.
Team and individual awards
Medals will be awarded to FIRST PLACE in each grade, (*except there will be no medals for non-championship). Team Competition winners will receive medals, with number to count in each grade as follows:
- Open Men M20-99 7.5k only 6
- Open Women W20-99 7.5k only 3
- Masters Women MW60+ combined 3
- Masters Men MM60/MM65 combined 3
- Junior Women WU20/WU18 combined 3
- Junior Men MU20/MU18 combined 3
- All other grades 3
Masters runners are eligible for team competition in both the Open grade and their own Masters grade.
The Barry Everitt Plate will be awarded to the Club scoring the highest number of points over all grades. This will be based on participation, where every competitor will score points, with 100 points to the winner. E.g., Senior Women, 30 finishers, first place scores 100 points, last place scores 71 points. (The non-championship races will not count towards this Club competition).
Prizegiving
Prize Giving, following each race, will be on the school field below the school hall and inside the school hall if weather conditions don’t allow it to be held outside.
Protests and appeals
In the first instance, any protest must be made to the Race Referee, within 30mins of the finish of the race. Referee’s decision will be given to the Race Director; any appeal must be made to the Race Director. Protests and appeals are governed by World Athletics Competition & Technical Rules – TR8.
Health and safety
Marshals All races are marshalled; marshals are clearly identifiable with orange Hi-Viz vests around the course. If you are injured or observe an injury or problem of any kind, please report to the nearest marshal. All competitors must obey the directions of marshals.
Course Marking The course will be marked with a combination of the following: tape, marker poles, arrows, cones, and marshals. Where two (2) marker poles are placed as a gate, runners must run between the marker poles. Where one (1) marker pole is used, runners must run within 5m either side of the marker pole. When running adjacent to roads, athletes must run within the coned verge area. Failure to comply with a marshal’s instruction or not following the correct course may result in disqualification.
Course Conditions This is a cross country race and accordingly trails may be loose, steep, slippery, uneven, and have trip hazards. Competitors are responsible for taking reasonable care.
Club Gazebo/Shelters An area on the school sports field will be available however if ground conditions are wet no gazebos or shelters will be permitted. Shelter will be available inside the school hall.
Race director
Thank you for supporting this event. We look forward to seeing you all on race day. For inquiries, please contact Paul Hewitson (027) 324 2465, or email: whacracedirector@gmail.com
Further details
2026 harriers syllabus
Live calendar in iCal format