Below is, our guesstimate, of the top 15 males and females in the Skyrunning Australia New Zealand Oceania Series after 5 of the 7 races. Hounslow Classic and Sky Rock ‘n’ Run both have 400 points available for the winners. Scores with an * are unlikely to add to their points this year.

Women
Beth Cardelli keeps her spot at the top of the Table but Jo Johansen has moved close enough that she could take the title. Two wins for Whitney Dagg would also see her put pressure on the top of the table and she is likely to start the last two races in the series. With a bit of luck we’ll see Emma Rilen and Hanny Allston having another run somewhere as well.

Series leader Beth Cardelli at last weekends Mt Difficulty Ascent. Photo: Crank Photos.

Men

It’s all on for young and old in this table. John Winsbury is back to some of his best form and has confirmed he’s lining up at the Sky Rock ‘n’ Run in November (and we expect to see him at Hounslow also). Dave Byrnes work commitments saw him miss the Mt Difficulty Ascent in the weekend but again he’s stated an intention to turn up in NZ as well. Add Grant Guise, Andrius Ramonas and Martin Lukes to that list and Scotty Hawker will have his work cut out holding on to #1.

Interestingly, of the 30 names on the 2 lists above, only 15 of those have run in more than 1 race in the series.

Becky wining the Ultra Easy 100km in January.

After a great start to the year, smoking the Ultra Easy, what have you been up to Becky?

- after the big easy ultra I had a few weeks off running and strength training and spent a bit of time back in the pool and heaps of yoga. Then pretty much just focusing on TNF.
 
How has your TNF100 prep gone? What focused work outs have you been doing?

-prep I think has gone good, had a few hiccups with a old injury but after some therapy all seems to be good. I’ve spent some time in the gym strength training, and high intensity plyometrics workouts. I have been running 2 to 3 times a week, a long mountainous run with hiking thrown in, a smaller run with stair repeats chucked in for a mini heart attack lol and then a easy recovery runs. I’v been doing good recovery spins on the bike a day after a big run heaps and heaps of yoga also.
 
This is your first TNF100? Have you been to the Blue Mountains before?

- yes I’ve been to the blue mountains before, when I lived in Sydney 7 years ago, but pretty much just went to the viewing point to see the 3 sisters, jumped back in the car and left, (wasn’t really fit back then, too much partying!).

This must be the most competitive ultra you have run? Certainly a step up from Naseby or the Ultra Easy!

-yes this will be the most competitive ultra I have done! Scary and exciting at the same time…. be good to see how I stack up against these hardouts, its gonna be inspiring to see some of these top women race!
 
What are your expectations/time goals going in?

-hmm time and goals? I have no clue what time ill be looking at, if we go by the Big Easy then I guess 14hrs… but to be honest I don’t wanna worry too much on my time I just wanna finish strong and finish feeling satisfied that I gave it everything, and enjoy it at the same time, if that’s possible? (I will probably crawl over the finishing in a world of pain lol) Goal is to stay focused, not get caught up in the fast pace at the start, be consistent and have some fun with my bloody awesome support crew! No expectations.
 
Post TNF- what do you have coming up?

- post TNF, rest recover, eat a shit load of chocolate, get that out my system…lol. then back into training for the Swiss Iron Trail in August, and my awesome mission of crewing at UTMB ;o)

Ben Aynsley on his way to winning the 100km

The Great Naseby Water Race (GNWR) held its 8th edition over the weekend. The 2007 event saw 9 starters in the 80k and 5 in the 50k. Helen Chignall has now run at all 8 events and another 4 of us were still turning up for a trot on Friday and Saturday. The event has grown in that time both in the numbers (now around 160) and in the events on offer (5 different lengths) but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the family and community feel of the event. It always has and I hope it always continues to be an event that is so much more than the runners themselves.

Aileen has finally managed to relinquish some of her lap scoring duties particularly for the overnight stint. They were taken up by volunteers who have often been competitors at this and other events. Ron McLeay-Barnes and his team did a fine job with the aid station. Ron is a stalwart of the event having taken part for many years in the relay and providing support for Jamie and Aileen. Sadly missing this year were the Koedyk family and hopefully we will see them back next year in their many and varied roles.

Naseby means a lot of different things to different people. For some it is an “A” race, to others it’s a training run, for some it is a lifetime achievement. But I am seeing more and more that Naseby is a gateway drug. Support crews become enthralled with not just theirs, but with all the runners and support networks and relationship develop. From that we see crews step up to the relay or 50k or in some cases they have jumped in the deep end, floundered around a bit and come out with a buckle.

So there were actually a series of races starting on Friday and finishing on Saturday evening. There were some fantastic performances, not just at the front of the field but right throughout the pack. Congratulations to the ladies who started the 50k early and pushed their boundaries. To those whose 100mile plans did not go as they would have hoped but worked hard and dug deep within themselves to ultimately achieve what we all start with intentions to do, and that is finish.

Croydon Patton on his way to a 10hr PB in the GNWR 100mile!

Standout performances came from Becky Nixon in the 100mile, the very well judged 18:15 will not be easy to beat. Ben Aynsley’s 8:48 is the 2^nd fastest in what has always been a well contested 100km. The ladies team record has dropped another few notches to 5:44 by Bernadette and Kath Ewer. However I think the one highlight shared by most of us was the 10 hour improvement from Mr Wooden Spoon Croydon Patton. Dropping from 34:30 to 24:21. When I first saw him on Friday afternoon he was running 4^th to last and commented that he was going too quick, so those in front were suicidal. He would eventually finish in 16^th!!!!!!! and handed the spoon to ever reliable and smiling Norman Chan.

It is always dangerous to have named people and leave others out. For that I am sorry but on behalf of the athletes, I thank all the volunteers, crews and with most heartfelt gratitude, Aileen and Jamie for letting us play.

Post Script:
There is always debate about the course, it’s length and vert. Those on Strava may have noticed there is now a segment: “Great Naseby Water Race 1 Lap”. It is between 10.0-10.1km long and has 150-160m of climb, nearly every watch measure it around that with the occasional watch measuring more.

This weekend the 8th Great Naseby Water Race will take place in the sleepy former gold mining town of Naseby, in Otago. The figure of 8, 10km loop race had a 100mile option added to the 100, 80 and 50km options last year and has quickly become the premier event at GNWR, with the biggest field this year.

50km- The best thing about the 50km field and possibly the whole event is the number of woman entries in the 50km! Actually both the 80km and the 50km have more women on the start list than men! This kind of growth is great for a small sport like ultra trail running! Picking a winner in either of these races is tricky- for me at least. LOTS of familiar names, but none jumping out for the win, which is great to see as the same old names can get boring….

The 100km has a great match up in Ben Aynsley (2013 Naseby 50km winner in 3hr49) and Simon Green (2nd 2014 Northburn 100km)  25/8 Simon has pulled out with injury. They both have similar Kepler times and this should be the “head to head” race of the weekend. Fleur Pawsey is a well known multi-sporter (former Coast to Coast winner) and for doing well at shorter distance trail running races. The GNWR 100km will be her first ultra running race, I believe, and I am excited to see Fleur race!

The woman’s 100mile field is about 1/3 of the size the men’s and it is fair to say Jean Beaumont’s 18hr24min course record from last year should be safe, but it will be a battle none the less. Lisa Nicholl and Penny Kirkwood bring a load of 100mile experience, both having finished big 100mile races overseas. Emma Johns is making the step up after finishing 2nd at the Naseby 100km race last year. She is probably the fastest on the start list, but lacks  100mile experience- but there is only one way to get it! Becky Nixon would have learnt a lot from her 35hr Northburn 100mile finish early in the year and it sounds like she has prepared very well for  Naseby.

Michael Rodliffe running the 100km at the 2012 Naseby event.

In the mens 100mile race John Bayne heads the field. John has won the 100km here in 9hr37 (2008) and was 2nd in 2011, running 9hr25. And most notably was 2nd in the 100mile behind Marty Lukes last year, running 17hr14. Michael Rodliffe will be (I believe) running his first 100mile race, having place 2nd at the 100km here in 2012, running 9hr23. Grant Guise (yes, I am adding myself into this race preview, but I figure would get more shit for not doing so, than doing so) was first in the 50km at Naseby in 2010, running 3hr45 and has 1 previous 100mile finish, a 23hr Ultra Trail Mt Fuji in 2013. (I was pretty confident a few weeks ago, pre flu and chest infection.)

Much has been said about Greg Yee’s build up and without doubt he would have learnt a lot from last year’s 16laps at Naseby and this year’s Northburn. He, along with Matt Bixley, will be looking to pick up the carnage in the wee hours of Saturday morning and make it onto the podium.

Ultimate Direction photo competition- Post your best photos from the Great Naseby Water Race onto the Ultimate Direction New Zealand Facebook page, or on Instagram hashtag them #UDnaseby Photos from the 2014 Naseby- taken by competitors, crew, supporters (anyone) and of any aspect of the event. The winner will get an Ultimate Direction FastDraw10 Handheld, and a BCR cap of their choice.