What’s on

Details for 2022:

Sign up form for Olympic Harriers members, relay race ONLY - please sign up by midday Sunday 8 May

The Victoria University Athletic Club invites us to the Victoria University Relay events being held at QE Park on Saturday 14 May. Registered athletes and social members of clubs are eligible to compete in the following events: 

1. The Whittaker’s Chocolate Walk – open to walkers of all ages. Distance of approximately 6 km. Walkers must estimate their time with the winners being the walkers who are closest to their estimated time. Prizes for first female and first male.  

2. The Boys & Girls Races – scratch races for athletes under 16 years of age, and a fun run for the under 7’s. Athletes 16 years and older run in the junior relay. Prize giving  for the scratch races will be held shortly after the under 7’s fun run, just before the start of the relay. In a change from 2020, this year U14 and U16 events will run together.

***Age is taken as at 31 December 2022*** 

3. The Victoria University Relay – 10 grades with 4 runners per team over an  approx. 3.5 km lap. 

Race times and event details

12:00 PM Chocolate Walk: 6 km walk on the road; 11.30 registration, 12 noon start

1:15 PM B&G U10: 1.2 km: the start is over the sandhills to the south of the main start/finish area

1:30 PM B&G U12: 2 km loop from the start/finish area

1.45 PM B&G U14 & U16: 2 km loop from the start/finish area

2:00 PM B&G U7: 500 metres fun run “out and back” from the start/finish area

2:30 PM University relay.  Ten grades: junior women U20, Junior men U20,  Senior women, Senior men, Masters women 35+, Masters men 35+, Masters women 50+, Masters men 50+, Open 60+. Four runners per team, 3.5 km lap. All grades start together. Open 60+ teams can comprise men and women in the same team. Mixed teams can comprise athletes of mixed ages and genders (results in the grade will be recorded but there will be no prizes awarded) Prizes will be awarded to the winning team in each grade with the prize-giving to start as soon as the final runner completes the event

PLEASE NOTE: age is taken as of 31 December 2022 or, in the case of Masters, age on the day of the event. 

Electronic Timing Batons and Changeover:

• Team members must run with the baton in their hand
• Next lap runners must enter the changeover area via the side access chute, NOT VIA THE START/FINISH CHUTE
• Baton changeover must take place WITHIN the allocated changeover zone

NOTE: ABSOLUTELY NO DOGS ARE PERMITTED  ON THE FARM AREA OF QE PARK EITHER LOOSE, ON LEADS OR IN CARS SO PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CANINES AT HOME! 

Entries, fees, rules and other information: 

1. Team relay entries must be submitted online by club officials via the online link (this link will be provided in the week before the event). Entries will close 11.59 pm Thursday 6 May. 
2. There is no need to pre-enter athletes in the Chocolate Walk or in the Boy’s and Girl’s Races. 
3. Relay teams who wish to compete in the Senior grade rather than their age grade must declare their intention to do so in writing to the Race Manager prior to the start of the relay
4. Clubs will be invoiced for entry fees after the event: $4 per walker, $4 for kids in the Boy’s & Girl’s Races, $40 per team in the Junior relay grades, $48 per team in the Senior/Masters/Mixed relay grades. No entry fee for the U10 and U7 events. 
5. Runners must wear club uniform with the team race bib as allocated by your club on the front of singlet. 
6. Runners must follow all instructions from marshals and Wellington Centre officials.
7. The course will be marked with a combination of tape, marker poles, arrows, cones and marshals. Where 2 marker poles are placed as a gate, runners must run between the marker poles. Where 1 marker pole is used, runners must run within 5m on either side of the marker pole. Failure to comply with a marshal’s instruction or not following the correct course may cause disqualification. 
8. Protests and Appeals: IAAF Competition Rules 146 covers protests and appeals. In the  first instance, any protest must be made to the Race Referee within 30 minutes of the finish of the race.  
9. If a runner cannot complete their lap, they can be replaced by another member of the  team, but this will incur a 7 minute time penalty. 
10. The course is not suitable for bare foot running; runners who run in bare feet do at their own risk. 
11. First aid is available at the Race HQ tent which is adjacent to the start/finish.
12. There is no water available and no shelter (unless provided by your club tent) so come prepared. 
13. Please take caution when driving in the paddock and especially watch out for kids. 

Thank you for supporting this event and we look forward to seeing you all on the day. For inquiries please email the event manager: Dave Kettles tea.pots@xtra.co.nz

2022 details below.

New for 2022

• The start line for all races is in the same grassed area (mountain biking area) as the finish. See the 2022 Vosseler course map.
• Junior race is 3.0km. Kids race is 1.1km. To make the event better for these age groups.
• BU10 and GU10 grades added.
• 2022 sees the closure of Alexandra Road from just north of the SPCA to just south of the intersection with Lookout Road.

Venue  

Race headquarters are at the WHAC Clubrooms, 164 Alexandra Rd. All races start on the grassed area near the Badminton Hall on Ruahine St

Course description

All races start and finish at the grassy area with the mountain bike skills area. The course covers bush tracks and rocky trails with steep uphill / downhill gradients. The entire race is off road with the exception of road crossings on Mt Victoria.  

There are four races run over four distances ranging from 1.1km for boys and girls to 10km for senior and masters’ runners.  

Road crossings are marshalled and subject to Traffic Management controls.  

Race times 

• 12.40pm -- 5km / 203m elevation gain:
  • SENIOR WOMEN,
  • MASTERS WOMEN 35,
  • MASTERS WOMEN 50,
  • MASTERS WOMEN 60,
  • MASTERS WOMEN 65,
  • MASTERS WOMEN 70+, 
  • MASTERS MEN 60,
  • MASTERS MEN 65,
  • MASTERS MEN 70+ ,
  • NON-CHAMPIONSHIP 5k MEN 20-59  
• 1:35pm -- 3km / 104m elevation gain
  • JUNIOR WOMEN WU20,
  • WOMEN WU18,
  • GIRLS GU16, 
  • JUNIOR MEN MU20
  • MEN MU18,
  • BOYS BU16.
• 2.05pm -- 1.1km / elevation gain 47m
  • GIRLS GU14, GIRLS GU12, GIRLS GU10
  • BOYS BU14, BOYS BU12, BOYS BU10.
• 2.30pm -- 10km / elevation gain 398m
  • SENIOR MEN,
  • MASTERS MEN 35,
  • MASTERS MEN 50, 
  • NON-CHAMPIONSHIP 10k WOMEN 20+

Entry information

Athletics New Zealand Sanctioned Event
Only Athletics NZ registered athletes who are financial full competition members in the ANZ ClubNet database are eligible to compete. Athletes must be financial in ClubNet by midnight Thursday 26 May 202 in order to compete. 

Race bibs
You must be financial in ANZ ClubNet as stated above to receive a race bib. If you are financial by Friday 20 May, you will receive a personalised race bib. If you are financial after 20 May and up to 26 May, you will receive a temporary race bib, which must be returned after the race. Race bib pick up at the WHAC clubrooms on race day 28 May from 11:30am. No postal or email entries from AW Clubs.  
 
Other clubs to email entries to the race director by 26 May. Athletes must collect their race bib from their club representative at the WHAC clubrooms at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their race. 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 4 interclub 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 Members)
AW Clubs will be invoiced after the event according to the number of individuals completing the races. 
 
Entry fees for ANZ Registered Club Members are as follows:

• Boys and Girls U12, U14 and U16   $25.50
• All other grades    $30.00

These entry fees include a special traffic management fee of $18.00 per person. 

Age Grades and Club Uniform
Age on 31st December 2022; except Masters’ grades where age on 26th May 2022. 
 
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, Ian Macfarlane whacracedirector@gmail.com  and Daryl Bloomfield daryl@fedude.co.nz by 5:00pm Thursday 26 May.  

Team and individual awards

Medals will be awarded to FIRST PLACE in each grade, (*except there will be no medals for non-championship races). 
 
Team Competition winners will receive medals, with number to count in each grade as follows:

• Open Men M20-99 10k only: 6
• Open Women W20-99 5k only: 3
• Masters Women MW50+ combined: 3
• Junior Women WU20/WU18 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).  

Prize giving

Prize giving, following each race, will be near the WHAC Clubrooms; and if bad weather, will be held inside.

Protests and appeals

In the first instance, any protest must be made to the Race Referee, within 30 minutes 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. 

IAAF Competition Rules 146 covers protests and appeals. 

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 2 marker poles are placed as a gate, runners must run between the marker poles. Where 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 off verge area. Failure to comply with a marshal’s instruction or not following the correct course may result in disqualification. 
 
Public Roads
The race includes the crossing of public roads. Marshals will be in place for your safety and will endeavour to stop vehicles in order to provide right of way to runners. However, you must remain alert at road crossings, look yourself, and be prepared to stop if directed to do so by a marshal. Where the course runs alongside public roads, competitors must run within the coned off verge area. 
 
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. 
 
COVID-19 
There are no mandatory public health requirements at the current orange traffic light setting. Please remain vigilant and continue to practice good hygiene to minimise the risk of community transmission. Spectators and athletes alike are asked to stay at home if they are feeling unwell. If the traffic light setting changes, we will adopt that setting’s requirements.

Race Director
Thank you for supporting this event. We look forward to seeing you all on race day. For inquiries, please contact  Ian Macfarlane (027) 230 8884, or email: whacracedirector@gmail.com     

• 2022 Vosseler course map
• Information from event organiser