Tight Racing on Avalanche Peak - 2010

Canterbury’s top mountain runners lined up to compete in the annual Avalanche Peak Challenge Mountain Running Race at the Arthur’s Pass DOC Visitor Centre on Saturday. 

Over 150 competitors climbed the 2,000m Avalanche Peak above Arthur’s Pass Village, traversing the ridge towards Mt Rolleston, descending a steep shingle slide into the Crow River, running down the valley into the Waimakariri and finishing the 26km at the Bealey Hotel.

Last year’s titleholder Jacob Roberts was again looking to retain his title, with Matt Scott and Grant Guise being the other two favourites most likely to take the title from him. 

Roberts was first to the summit gaining the King of the Mountain title, with Guise only seconds behind him.  From there the two raced neck and neck along the ridge and down the shingle slide and were still together when they got to the Waimakariri River flats. 

With 3km to go Guise managed to make a small break, finishing 12 seconds ahead of Roberts for one of the closest finishes that the event has had in its 18-year history.  The winning time was only 1 minute slower than the record set by Coast-to-Coast record-holder Keith Murray several years ago.

The women’s race was very close to the summit, with Christchurch’s Sia Svendsen being first to the summit and winning Queen of the Mountain title, closely followed by last year’s champion Lara Prince. 

Prince used her knowledge of the course from several previous wins and her childhood spent in the mountains in the area, to pass Svendsen along the ridge leading to the Crow Slide and opened up a lead to eventually finish 15 minutes ahead of her, retaining her title.  Svendsen was closely followed by 3^rd place Jane Harper.

Race Director Chris Cox was pleased with the success of this year's event and said that the warm sunny weather contributed to fast times.

Placegetters

Open Men:

Place                           Name                                                   Time

1^st                                 Grant Guise, Castle Hill                          2:28:59

2^nd                                Jacob Roberts, Christchurch                   2:29:11

3^rd                                 Matt Scott, Christchurch                         2:37:36

4^th                                 Tane Cambridge, Christchurch                2:39:49

Open Women:

Place                           Name                                                   Time

1^st                                 Lara Prince, Christchurch                       3:06:31

2^nd                                Sia Svendsen, Christchurch                    3:21:38

3^rd                                 Jane Harper, Castle Hill                          3:22:39

4^th                                 Hayley Shearer, Christchurch                  3:33:49

Masters Men (40-49):

Place                           Name                                                   Time

1^st                                 Andrew Reese-Jones, Christchurch         2:51:19

2^nd                                Robert Jarvis, Christchurch                     2:54:39

3^rd                                 Graham Harris, Christchurch                   3:04:09

Masters Women (40-49):

Place                           Name                                                   Time

1^st                                 Fiona Gilroy, Christchurch                      3:49:24

2^nd                                Sheryl Fraser, Christchurch                    4:06:39

3^rd                                 Vicki Ackland, Christchurch                    4:15:18