UPDATE 23rd April

The 2015 Routeburn Classic takes place this weekend, traversing from The Divide on the Milford Road, crossing over Harris Saddle and descending down the Routeburn finishing 32km and 1200mD+ later. This time a year ago I wrote the following about the Routeburn Classic-

“The event has it all and I struggle to name another race in New Zealand, especially in the sub marathon distance that is better.”

Well a year on and I would now go as far to say it is my all time favorite race. A big call I know and one I hope does not upset other racers/race directors, its just, well, it’s the Routeburn Track….. its kind of hard to top a course like this. And there is Evan- BEST pre race brief’s EVER. I am excited to again be lining up, albeit still tenderized from the Buffalo Stampede.

Last year saw some fast times- Nick Hirschfeld finally got the Routeburn monkey off his back, winning in the 2nd fastest time ever at the race, while Sarah Douglas and Jess Simpson both went under Vic Beck’s course record, with Sarah taking line honors in a smoking 3hr17.

Jim Hawkridge racing the 2007? Routeburn Classic.

None of the above names are on the start list this year, which leaves things wide open, especially in the women’s race. Hilary Totty, Evelyn Armstrong, Katie Bolt and Johanna Jackson should all feature in the race. It is some what wide open and I am looking forward to being proven wrong here!

Another name of interest in the women’s race is Sally Currie, who is married to Routeburn course record holder and 3x Coast 2 Coast winner Braden Currie. 

Floortje Grimmett is a late starter and will defiantly feature. Part of team Tikki Tour in GodZone and recently won the Southern Lakes 10km.

The guys are a little easier. When a New Zealand Mountain Running reps name is on the start list, it is not to hard to pick! Tane Cambridge represented NZ at the 2014 World Mountain Running Champs and earlier this year raced Godzone, so endurance over the 32km course shall not be an issue.

Stafford Thomapson placed 3rd in the Kepler last year and again recently won the Dunedin Three Peaks. Between Stafford and Tane expect an epic battle, one that could get close to Braden’s stout 2hr44min course record.

Mitch Munro ran 2hr58 at the Routeburn a few years ago and was on Tane’s Godzone team (as was Hilary Totty) earlier in the year. He will certainly feature on Saturday. As will Hywel Dinnick and the ever constant Nathan Jones. And I guess the Try Hard writing this race preview…..

Andrew Town is another late entry and maybe he is well past his best days (they don’t call him Old Man Town for nothing) I have to mention him here other wise he will make me fell guilty on the drive to Te Anua. That and he is still likely to be knocking on the 3hr mark- the Routeburn course will suit him well.

A special mention to James Harcombe who will be running his 10th Routeburn Classic this weekend! Nice one James!

 Routeburn Classic website

Outside Sports Routeburn blog

Helen and Lara leading the woman’s race

The women started off at 10am and pre race favourites Lara Prince and Helen Gillespie shot to the front of the pack. Gillespie, having done the Coast to Coast a week earlier, fell off the pace and Lara Prince was the first to summit Avalanche Peak. By the Waimakariri Prince had established the expected lead that she held to the finish, while Rose Pearson moved into 2nd place and Gillespie 3rd- which is how they finished.

The men, starting 30mins later, were lead off by defending champ Tane Cambridge, with 2010 winner Grant Guise right behind. Guise was quickly dropped and passed by UK fell runner Rhys Findlay-Robinson, who stormed up the 1100 meter scramble of Avalanche Peak to claim the “King of the Mountain” title in 50mins. Cambridge was next over the top, with adventure racing world champ Chris Forne on the hunt in 3rd. At the top of the scree slope into the Crow Cambridge reclaimed the lead, while Forne moved into 2nd down the Crow. Down the Waimakariri Forne was within 1 min of Cambridge, but that was how it stayed, with Tane Cambridge winning his 2nd Avalanche Peak title in 2hrs28min12sec, just 47sec ahead of Chris Forne! Grant Guise recovered somewhat, passing a fading Rhys Findlay-Robinson, who had gotten off course down the Crow- such is the nature of the APC.

A solid numbers of runners and “trampers” lined up in what is a unique and extremely mountainous race by New Zealand standards. While it wasn’t the turnout of over 300 that the event has experienced in the past, numbers were up on the previous 2 years. While “Sky Running” has been very popular in Europe for years and is currently gaining traction with new events and series’ being added, this style of race seems to be fading here in New Zealand. Avalanche Peak has to be the closest we have to a “Sky Race” here in New Zealand and I certainly hope the steep climbing, technical running and truly hardy mountain runners keep turning out to support this great event.

Avalanche peak Challenge

Mountain running legends Andrew Town and Keith Murry are past winners, with Murry still holding the current record (this was after he took the record back off Town in the ’90′s). Last year Tane Cambridge post the 3rd fastest time on record on his way to winning Avalanche Peak (worth noting there has been small course changes) and this year he will again be the one to beat…..

The Men-

Tane Cambridge the defending champ, with a slick 2hr25min time, will be very hard to beat. He has been running well in the Hagley 5km series and of course competing in the Orienteering World Cup. Tane has even been rumoured to state he is going after Murry’s 1998 course record of 2hr20. His 2012 race report is HERE

Lee Cook is new to the NZ mountain/trail running scene, but if you have been following his blog HERE on BCR you will know he is in good shape, training hard in Mt Cook Village on the Sealy Tarns and Red Tarns tracks. This will be his first real test in NZ after winning the Pyrimd in Twizel last year.

Grant Guise returns to Avalanche Peak after winning the race in 2010 with a considerably bigger endurance base, but a lot less technical running in recent times.

Phil Wood is another NZ orienteering rep (with a 3hr Routeburn just one of his running achievements) should have the 40+ to himself, and don’t be surprised to see him in the top 3 overall if any of the above 3 falter on race day.

Possibles- Vajin Armstrong- he talks the talk with Avalanche Peak, but we are yet to see him walk the walk here. Jacob Roberts was spotted back in New Zealand recently and it is hard to imagine the 3X Avalanche Peak Challenge winner not turning up if he is back in the country?

Women-

Lara Prince is a multiple winner at Avalanche Peak (and NZ orienteering rep) and it is hard to look past her in the women’s race- her past wins have been by comfortable margins.

Helen Gillespie has the endurance and skills on this kind of terrain to take it to Lara, so we might see an interesting battle at the front of the women’s race yet.

Georgia Whitla should round out the top 3 in the women’s race.