Backcountry Runner » Simon Green

Jacks Point Trail Run

BCR — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 05:17:13 +0000

The inaugural Jacks Point Trail Run was held in mix conditions at Jacks Point, just outside of Queenstown today. The event is the brain child of former Luxmore Grunt record holder Andrew Town and the tough little course reflects Andrews long association with hard mountain running events.

In the Outside Sports 21k, Queenstowns Simon Green dominated the mens field taking the lead in the early stages of the 3 lap course and setting a blistering pace on a very technical hilly course with over 700 m of elevation. He was followed home by Veteran runner and legend of the Kepler Challenge fame Russell Hurring who was 2nd across the line and 1st Veteran in a time of 1:48:09.

In 2nd place in the Open Men was Chris Fraser 1:58:08 and 3rd Martin Krumns of Wanaka 2:02:50.

In the Womens race Karen Kirkham was placed 1st in a time of 2:13:07, 2nd was Tamsin Browne 2:19:12 and 3rd Naomi Shaw 2:20:20. Polly Buchanan was 1ist Veteran Women in a time of 2:28:11 for 13th place overall.

Outside Sports 21k Half Marathon

Women Open

1st Karen Kirkham 2:13:07

2nd Tamsin Browne 2:19:12

3rd Naomi Shaw 2:20:20

Open Men

1st Simon Green 1:33:58

2nd Chris Fraser 1:58:08

3rd Martin Krumns 2:02:50

Veteran Women

1st Polly Buchanan 2:28:11

2nd Carly Blackbourne 2:33:19

3rd Clare Fitzpatrick 2:46:27

Veteran Men

1st Russell Hurring 1:48:09

2nd Graham Neilson 2:05:00

3rd Aaron Cook 2:07:22

Results of the Snap Fitness 7k

Women

1st Natalie Jacobs 38:13

2nd Kerry Lynn 42:32

3rd Emily Fleming 46:12

Men

1st Ioan Fuller 31:49

2nd Andy Town 32:46

3rd Jono Hall 33:12

2014 Great Naseby Water Race Preview

BCR — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 08:14:22 +0000

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.

Wild Earth Ascent 1/2 Marathon- AT’s Report

Andrew Town — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 02:37:31 +0000

Wild Earth Ascent 1/2 Marathon Race Report by Andrew Town.

The inaugural Wild Earth Ascent mountain adventure race held on Saturday 14th June was everything I had hoped for; steep climbs, technical trails, fast downhills and an element of danger that demanded caution and care- a fall on the treacherous rocky downhill sections of this course with bluffs and razorback ridges and you would probably die.

Andrew running along the top of Mt Difficult, with The Remarkables in the distance.

Race Director,Terry Davis had promised a course that was not going to be for the faint hearted and he surely delivered here! He had already warned prospective entrants that if they didn’t turn up with the correct gear that was suitable for the unpredictable and demanding course then he would quote, “assume they were a doofus’s and not let them on the mountain”, sound advice indeed from a man who knows ’mountain running’ and how to challenge competitors!

There was the option of the full marathon or the half marathon course and I had opted to do the half marathon which was effectively a big loop incorporating running up and over Mt Difficulty, the marathoners would do the same loop and then continue on a different loop again that would prove to be just as difficult and technical as the first!

My plan leading into the race was to try and stay with pre race marathon favourites, Grant Guise and Simon Green. If I could keep close to them or at least keep them both in my sights, then I was going to be happy.

At 8am just as it was getting light the race started and the marathoners and half marathoners set off together. There was a short relatively fast 5km loop to get us warmed up and this incorporated the traditional Rustic Run loop. From here it was straight into a scary 500m of vertical gained in just over 1km of distance travelled. At this point in the race the field had spread out and as we got into the business of climbing a few bodies trailed off and others asserted their climbing prowess.

Andrew descending, before it got actually got steep.

Simon Green had advanced into the lead closely followed by Grant Guise and then myself. By the mid point of the climb the three leaders had extended their lead, Simon had taken control and I was desperately hanging onto him, Grant was a bit further back and was unbelievably taking photo’s and posting them to Facebook as he was racing!!

We continued the climb and by the summit of the mountain Simon had asserted a 2 minute lead on myself, Grant was a similar distance behind me and there was a gap to the following runners.

From here there was a very fast downhill section of several kilometres, it was open 4 wheel drive farm track, very muddy and slippery, the right choice of footwear here was going to be imperative to staying upright. I managed to catch Simon and just as I did we were unsure of the course and stopped to ensure we stayed on the marked course, Grant caught up by now and between the 3 of us we relocated the markers and got going again.

We pretty much stayed together for the next couple of kilometres of downhill, it was great fun and we were bolting down hill quite fast.

Eventually the track forked off to the left and so began the really fun part as the downhill suddenly became technically challenging, steep and rocky.

Shortly we came across a sign calling for ‘extreme care !!!’ we had been advised by Terry and Ed that this was a dangerous part of the course. Grant took the lead now and suddenly changed gears and took off, I took off with him and soon we had put a gap on Simon who was taking time at preserving his life no doubt!!

Below the rocky section and back on the relatively flat stuff. Photo- Eyetoeye- www.facebook.com/negotiates

Just as I jostled past Grant I heard someone talking behind me ???…what was that I’m thinking, I glance around and see Grant has taken a phone call and is apparently chatting to Race Director Terry Davis!!!….

I’m gobsmacked that here we are on some of the most kick arse trail in NZ, mid race and Grant is nonchalantly having a conversation with the Race organisers, funny!!

At the base of the mountain there is a short fast 2 kilometres to complete the first lap of the Marathon and the finish of the Half Marathon. I’m a minute or so ahead and make for home as fast as I can now to the finish, I’m happy to take out the Half Marathon title.

Grant arrives at the finish area and sets off on his second lap, he’s looking comfortable and begins the next climb making it look easy in the process.

Grant he goes on to win the Marathon, while Simon is next in to the start finish area and although he was down to run the Marathon distance he decides to finish at the completion of the Half.