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21 October, 2020

Devonport Half Marathon draws the crowds for post-lockdown racing

Flagstaff Team

Smashed it… Fabe Downs (above) wins the 21km half-marathon in a race record time of 1:10.59

Takapuna resident Fabe Downs set a new record for the Devonport Half Marathon, winning the 21km race in 1 hour 10 minutes and 59 seconds.

“It was a tough course,” said Downs who raced the half-marathon in preparation for the upcoming Auckland Marathon.

Downs said he regularly runs down to Devonport for training.

The Harcourts Cooper and Co Devonport Half Marathon event attracted nearly 800 entrants across a range of races this year.

Postposed from October 4 due to the Auckland Covid-level-2 restrictions it ran a week later, one of the first running events

to go ahead in the region since the arrival of Covid-19.

The course gave runners views of Devonport’s heritage streets and Narrow Neck and Cheltenham Beaches. The half-marathon started from Windsor Reserve, as did the 15km, 10km, 5km and 2km events.

The main race is one of the Mizuno Auckland Half Marathon Series, a season-long challenge featuring events at five different locations.

For those looking to compete in the Auckland Marathon, the Devonport Half Marathon held four weeks prior was the perfect preparation.

Andrius Ramonas placed second in the half-marathon in a time of one hour 16 minutes and 45 seconds.

In third, with 1:19.01, was Matt Kerr who came from Coromandel. “A lot of these kinds of events have been cancelled because of Covid-19, so I came up to make the most of the opportunity. There were some good climbs on the track, and it was quite testing on the hills.”

The first woman home was Jess Gerry in 1.36.52. Pip Tuckey was second in 1:37.45 and Marie McNaughton third in 1:37.45.

One of the oldest people running was 89-year-old Devonport resident Jim Doug- las, who competed in the 10km race.

Fast and Furious… Dan McKay (above, left) and Robbie Ford battle to the finish, crossing the line together in 1:31.41
On the pace…Vauxhall School students (from left) Max Willis (8) Clementine Powles (7) and Hamish Hunt (8) competed in the 5km fun run and walk
They’re off… George Mawson (left) leads at the start of the 10km race. He finished second, with a time of 37 minutes, 34 seconds.
Dad did it… Karl Davies, wife Tara Davies and their kids, Archie (4) and Emily (2)
The real deal… Harcourts Cooper and Co owner Martin Cooper (right) warms up with Devonport branch manager Matt Hunt (and son Cooper) and Megan Powell, Harcourts Devonport office administrator

Other results: 15km: Amelia Green 1, 1:05.00; Jenna Smith 2, 1:06.09; Diego Restrepo 3, 1:07.1. 10km Classic: James Marsh 1, 35.52; George Mawson 2, 37.34; Michael Seow 3, 38.08. 5km Fun Run & Walk: Sophie Robb 1, 19.05; Mark Carryer 2, 19.20; Troy Hundley 3, 20.00. 2km Kids Dash: Caleb Mackenzie 1, 8.33; Esmee Pekel 2, 8.42; Kayleigh Limu 3, 8.45.

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