Southland Harriers eNewsletter

THANK YOU DWIGHT GRIEVE FOR AN EXTENSIVE EVENT REPORT

The 2026 NZ Cross Country Champs were back for a second year at Hagley Park in Christchurch, stunning weather conditions for the past few weeks had a very hard and fast looking course on the Friday night, but heavy overnight rain with a front coming through changed everything with puddles, mud and very cold temperatures greeting everyone come Saturday morning.

Southland can be very proud on having a huge team at the event, we had more competitors than our bigger neighbours Otago, and noisier too, just saying!!

The course looks flat but it is not as easy as you think, very deceptive with race organisers using small hills, tight corners and golf bunkers to great effect, plus the mud. First up with rain still about were the Masters women, 6km and 3 laps of the 2km course. 5 Southlanders lined up, I can not remember the last time we had 5 masters women at a national champs, I really must take my hat off to not only the regular crew of Debbie and Linda, but it is inspiring for Aimee Hall, Steff Braaksma and Kristie Ak Kuoi to step up and have a go, it is one thing to help support our kids in sport, but very special to go out of your comfort zone and show them how it is done. Debbie Telfer showed her class with yet another National title, Debbie is always a quiet achiever, repeatedly top in NZ and never one to shout it out – DEBBIE TELFER NATIONAL CHAMPION, there you go, I can shout it out for you. Then there was the smiling achiever, Linda TeAu, bronze with never-ending positiveness. Aimee 6th , Steff 7th and Kristie 8th.

Southland masters men managed to get a team again, trying to back up from last years bronze effort in the 35-49 age group. Solid fields across all age groups as per normal for this event. The masters scene the last couple of years has changed with a large group of very good runners turning 35 and deciding to move into the masters races, this really was shown again with the top 5 runners home in the 35-39 age group, race favourite Eric Speakman of Wellington was the first victim of the much talked about “steeple jump” halfway around the course, falling and losing a shoe, in an amazing comeback he showed what an athlete he is by fighting back for bronze after having to undo, put onand re tie his shoe. Jono Jackson (ex-repeat NZ senior champ – Repeat Luxmore Grunt champ etc etc
etc) won the race but a huge mention goes to Otago’s Ollie O’Sullivan, he fought a great race and come home second.

For team Southland Dwight Grieve come home 7th overall and a 30 second lead
for 45-49 Gold. Richard Ford (35-39) had a great race to come home 7 th , new to the competitive side of our sport, Jared Graham (40-44) 4th place in his first NZ champs, with Regan Pearce (45-49) also in his first NZ champs home in 11th . Neville Britton was also in the same 8km race for the 50-54 age group with a 7th place effort. The results on the day showing the Southland team 4th , BUT by the next day we had been moved to 3rd on the official results.

The 6km mens 65+ race was next on the cards, one of the Southland highlights with John Wallace (65-69) having the race of his life, going toe to toe with a Canterbury runner the whole way before a gutsy sprint for the win, first over the line and well earned. Evergreen Evan MacIntosh (80-84) added to his long list of champs medals with silver in his age group.

Now things got tough, the under 18 and under 20 age groups are truly brutal, so many rising stars in the NZ running scene at the moment. Siena Mackley and Millie McFadzien are both very high end athletes and fought the whole way over the U20 6km race, Siena showing her class with silver and Millie a gutsy 6th .

If the under 20 women had it tough, so did James Webber in the mens u20 8km, James emptied the tank and the word “shattered” would be used to describe him post-race, bronze for his efforts, this result really was outstanding due to the level of competitors.

Hudson Roy and Cayden Sanginiti lined up for the 6km under 18 men's race, both have improved leaps and bounds over the last 12 months, it has been very noticeable in the Southland running scene. This race had a large field, both went in going positive and hard, both also had a tough day, Hudson 24th and Cayden 32nd , both a little down on the result, but the only way to be the best is race the best, both have a pile of potential and will have learned a heap from the day, watch this space……………… both are sitting close to 16 minute for 5km and next year could see some pretty impressive results.

The under 16 girls and boys were next over 4km, this age group is very exciting for Southlands future, every single one of the 7 entrants for us have the potential to go all the way, it also makes a true team feeling, it was very cool to watch them interact and support each other, I hope they realise how the culture they are fostering not only helps themselves develop, but each other, may it long continue.

The girls went first and it was a tough battle, Charlotte Hawkes and Lily Wiegersma gave it all but and by the finish Charlotte was 9th and lily 24th . Charlotte went out with the leaders but just couldn’t hold it on the day, she was very much disappointed post-race, but her determination and want to win was very admirable, she really showed how she wants to be at the top, we cant win them all and I have zero doubt with her attitude she will be back much stronger in the future.

The 5 Southland boys made great watching, 43 entries for this one, Hunter Flowers run a well-paced race for a strong 11th , he has proved again he is one to watch. Next home was Mahe Braaksma in 22nd , Mahe only started formal training recently and the improvements really showing already. Brodie McIlwrick run well for 31 st , Craig Jnr Iverson close behind in 33rd and Cooper Flowers showing he is following in his older brothers footsteps in 41st , I am glad I don’t have to join in as a parent in their family sports, the pair would have you shattered. The boys making a team that earned 4th , we have to proud to be the only small province to get a team together, it is noted that Southland represent and get teams together.

Under 14 girls lined up next over 3km, great effort by the 3 Southlanders, Freya Gilmour first Southlander home in 8 th , Holly Hall 17th with Laykn Ah Kuoi chasing her home for 20th. Charlie Braaksma and Sean Iverson fought it out for the Southland u14’s, a very good 9th for Sean and Charlie home in 23rd , Charlies first crack at a NZ cross country and appeared to love it.

That left Mahli Ah Kuoi to race over 2km in the mixed under 12’s, and she really flew around the course………………. Over 30 entries and she smashed the boys………………. 10th over both boys and girls.

The officials then changed the course in preparation for the Club relay races, creating a 1km loop that was under lights and very COLD conditions, whew the temperatures dropped with the sun.

Charlie and Mahe Braaksma joined in with others to make social teams, while Queenstown fought in the under 20 grade and Fiordland in the 35-49 relay. St Pauls also got together a team but due to a technicality of one member being 8 days too young could not officially race for medals, BUT more importantly ST Pauls and Fiordland banter pre-race was in fine form…………….. club pride on the line………….. and lots of laughs. By the finish - I Dwight Grieve of Fiordland club must formally admit the St Pauls whippersnappers were the better team on the night, there I said it…………………..Back to the actual competitive racing…………….. wahoo go Queenstown 2nd out of NZ, well done.

One of the biggest teams ever for Southland for many years, along with a really good representation of teams that must make some much larger provinces embarrassed. On top of that I was very proud of the way all our team supported each other and raced hard, not everyone can have their best race every time, these events are tough and will make you a better runner, more importantly, doing the mahi and fronting up on that start line regardless of expectations of medals, or simply putting yourself out of your comfort zone, it makes you a better person, every single one of team Southland can be proud of being a Southlander, it was Stag day and not just for the rugby, Southland represented and showed we are not just strong runners but strong people.