Experience mountain runner Andrew Town ventures north for his first run at the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic tomorrow and shares with us who might be in the mix tomorrow at the 22nd running of the Able Tasman Coastal Classic.

The Abel Tasman Coastal Classic first began in 1994 and quickly became one of New Zealand’s most popular Trail Runs. The reputation of the event, the location and its organisation continues to spread via word of mouth and it sells out every year, although not quite as quickly as that other South Island classic, the Kepler Challenge.

Top athletes are among the competitor tally over the years including Scott Molina, Erin Baker, Greg Fraine, Jonathan Wyatt, Tracy Clissold, Michelle Allison, Phil Costley and Rod Dixon (to name drop just a few).

Not surprisingly Phil Costley holds the current course record with a time of 2hours and 22 min set back in 2002. Not many runners (usually only the top 10) go under the magic 3 hour barrier on this undulating trail which includes some technical trail as well as sandy beaches to negotiate. This Saturday over 300 runners will converge to race the 36km Trail Run from Awaroa to Marahau along the renowned Abel Tasman National Park. “It’s been on my bucket list for a number of years, so I’m really excited to be heading up there for the 2016 event and it looks like a real adventure with a scenic boat trip from Marehau up the coast to the start line at Awaroa”.

A quick glance at the start list for 2016 shows a very strong women’s field including Lizzie Wesley-smith of Nelson who came home in under 3 hours last year with a time of 2 hours 54 minutes and Florence Van dyke of Auckland who was 3 hours flat. Fiona Jane Wright Hayvice will be competitive after a strong 2015, which has included a top 5 finish at the Tarawera 100km.

The men’s field looks wide open on paper with none of the top place getters from last year looking to return for the 2016 event. But watch for local veteran, Simon Mardon of Nelson, Matthew Clarke from Australia, Nigel Kirk of Wellington in the men’s 50-59 hard man Garry Jones from Christchurch who finished in a time of 3 hours and 7 min last year with Chris Gates from Nelson close behind.

Good luck everyone who is racing this year and I look forward to seeing you up there.

Matt Pepler’s ( Christchurch ) hot pace set the scene but by the mid sections of the 36km journey from Awaroa to Marahau , David Fitch ( Christchurch ) and Greymouth’s  Ben Aynsley made it a two man race.

Fitch came “downunder” back in 2002 from the UK on holiday and completed the event in 4 hours 24 minutes.

The sojourn gave him the incentive to  immigrate five years ago and since then his running has gone from strength to strength.

Aynsley, “fresh “ from victory in the Great Naseby Water Race 100km earlier in the month had the endurance to stick with the English expat but when speed mattered most, Fitch had the faster feet and lead home in 2 hours 38 minutes 38 seconds.

Aynsley was just over two minutes in arrears with Pepler finding his second wind to head Jamie Whyte ( Auckland ) and  Nathan Jones ( North Canterbury ) for third.

Nelson’s Lizzie Wesley-Smith knows how to break 3 hours in a marathon having achieved the notable feat in Auckland in 2012 after just missing out the year before.

Whilst approximately 6 kilometres shorter than the marathon distance, Abel Tasman’s terrain is equal to the effort as many found out.

Recording 2 hours 54 minutes 50 seconds , Wesley-Smith ‘s 8^th overall placing was outstanding in testing conditions and no doubt she will return and attempt to shave a further two minutes off her time and eclipse  Eveline Coombe’s  2001 record.

Second placed female, Florence Van Dyke ( Auckland ) made her debut over a serious long distance and her performance will give her the incentive to continue what is sure to be a successful running career in her spare time away from her demanding legal profession.

Wellington’s Nicole Walker was next  as Tina Cox ( Christchurch ) and  UK visitor Maria Kelly rounded out the top five women.

No records were broken on the day but the 3 “survivors” Chris Gates, Colin Rolfe and Owen Rowse all completed their 21 consecutive finish line appearances since the events inception in 1994.

Date for 2015 has been set for Saturday September 26^th when another sell out of New Zealand’s favourite coastal trail run is sure to continue.

Results.

Men:

Under 40: David Fitch, Chch, 2.38.38, 1; Ben Aynsley, Greymouth, 2.40.48, 2; Matt Pepler, Chch, 2.47,52, 3.

40-49: Tim Wright, Chch, 2.53.10, 1; Peter Olds, Chch, 3.03.30, 2; Morgan Slyfield, Wtgn, 3.04.58, 3.

50-59: Garry Jones, Chch, 3.07.34, 1; Chris Gates, Nelson, 3.09.16, 2; Blair Bermingham, Dunedin, 3.11.58, 3.

60+: Alain Liger, Chch, 3.48.45, 1; Michael Harte, Nelson, 3.49.00, 2; Owen Rowse, Wtgn, 3.58.42, 3.

Women:

Under 40: Lizzie Wesley Smith, Nelson, 2.54.50, 1; Florence van Dyke, Auckland, 3.00.19, 2; Nicole Walker, Wellington, 3.08.25, 3.

40-49: Sarah McLeod, Chch, 3.28.41, 1; Anthea Lees, Nelson, 3.32.18, 2; Lilla Csorgo, Wellington, 3.33.25, 3.

50-59: Madeleine McIntosh, Chch, 3.40.55, 1; Margaret Moretti, Chch, 3.44.46, 2; Maria Voigt, Motueka, 4.12.08, 3.

60+: Yvonne West, Nelson, 3.54.14, 1.

This weekends Able Tasman Coastal Classic will have its usual strong field (a quick look at the start list and the likes of recent Naseby 50km winner Ben Aynsley and the top 2 finishers at this years Routeburn- Luke Hurring and Dallas Wichman are my pick as as the first 3 across the line), but more importantly than the front runners, is this will mark the 20th running of the Able Tasman Coastal Classic.

Back in the early 1990’s trail running was in its infancy with the amount of events happening in New Zealand being able to be counted on a few fingers. A few athletes were beginning to question their allegiance to tarmac and time keeping.

Averil and Graeme West  had had enough of marathons along the bitumen and sitting in Nelson’s Chez Eelco Coffee Bar one Sunday 1993 morning,along with Marie Lenting plus  Joanne & Greg Fraine, the 350 Year Celebration banner of Abel Janzoon Tasman was spotted hanging on the Dutch proprietor’s wall.

That was enough to spark off an inspiration and from there the beginnings of one of the nation’s most popular trail runs began. In September 1994 a sell out 250 strong field lined up at Marahau but it was all but a disaster. A 100 year storm lashed  Tasman Bay that day, drenching runners on the way out then making them sea sick on the boat trip back.

“It was terrible” remembers Averil, “ We had all these runners wet and freezing and we got then straight on the boats headed back to Marahau.

But the weather only got worse and the boats could not come back to get us. Here we are , the race organizers, stranded and huddled  together until the bus arrived to take us back over the Takaka Hill.

At least we weren’t bored on the drive back to base as Graeme had a “few” calculations to determine, as finishers times were required for prizegiving an hour or so away…no swank portable computers available in those days with results all needing reconciling by pen & paper, made harder by the handicap starts “

Most races would have been ruined but competitors that day looked past the obvious and saw the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic for what it could be and they kept coming back

Three have “survived “ since the beginning and Chris Gates, Owen Rowse and Colin Rolfe will line up for number 20 on Saturday. Barry Rowe will notch up his fifteenth while four others  Steve Clementson,, Rob Blackburne, Gary Dick & Roland Meyer will  have ten or more finishers to their credit.
Organisers , Nelson Events, have had plenty of voluntary support over the run’s history with Motueka’s Search & Rescue Team using the event as a valuable training exercise while the Motueka Round Tabler’s man the aid the drink stations and enjoy their weekend camaraderie.

They will be back assisting the celebration as will 350 plus runners from all over the country plus a few venturing from overseas.

All signed up months ago for a race aimed at giving them what they want…..simply a runners reason for a weekend away and earning their “stripes’ by completing the 40km journey from Totaranui back to Marahau along Nelson’s “jewel in the crown” coast track

Full details on www.nelsonevents.co.nz

What is New Zealand’s Top TRAIL Town? Hmm, could there be a bigger can of worms?

“The bread and butter run”- a quick and easy, no brainer option for scoring some nice off road/single track close to home. Ideally with little to no drive time.
“Fortune favours the brave”- long , endurance, adventure run – whatever you call it- this is the training run than gets you excited- the most work, with the biggest reward. Steep, long climbs, big loops, and high peaks, all with top notch NZ scenery are the highlights here.
“The biggest show in town”- the main attraction event wise- when people think of a race in your home town/area this is what they think of.
“Après Trail”- whether it be a good coffee, local micro brew, or the best thick shake in town- where is the best post run hang out. Most likely goes hand in hand with the “Fortune favours the brave” run or the “The biggest show in town” race. Quality pizza and/or burgers are a bonus.

Chris cranking on one of the fine trails in the Nelson region

Last week we caught up with Kristain Day from the mighty Kaweka’s, this week it is Chris Gates, who has been running trails around Nelson for about as long as KDay has been alive!  Chris started running in events like the Tramper’s Marathon, over the 5 mile track and Butcher Baker track, hosted by the Tararua Tramping club (where they had to wear tramping boots!). Fast forward and Chris has spent the last 20 years in Nelson, where he started to do trail events, mainly those run by Nelson Events.