Auckland Marathon 2003
The 10th annual BMW Auckland Marathon took place on Sunday 2 November 2003. From humble beginnings with 1,400 runners in a Marathon and Half Marathon in 1994 on an out-and-back Auckland Waterfront course the event has grown to over 9,300 in a Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km which all cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The 10km entry limit of 3,000 was reached quickly, with 5,500 in the Half Marathon and 850 in the Marathon.
Despite a couple of weeks of welcome sunshine leading up to the event, the weather forecast for race day did not sound promising – strong westerly winds and thunderstorms. In previous years the scheduled 4.30 am meeting between Race Director Gary Upson, the Police and Transit New Zealand to determine whether it was safe to use the Harbour Bridge course had been a mere formality. This year it was different. There was a real concern that the winds would be too strong to ensure the safety of participants. Fortunately the gusty conditions had eased off sufficiently for the authorities to give the go-ahead for the race to proceed as planned, and the alternative waterfront course plans could be returned to the bottom drawer. Even so, gusts up to 80km/h were the order of the day. The rain, too, had eased off, with only an odd shower or two passing over the runners.
The Marathon and Half Marathon started at 6.30 am in Devonport, and from the gun it was Half Marathoner Dale Warrander setting a cracking pace. Perhaps he had an early plane to catch back to his home base in New Plymouth. Some distance back was Aucklander Craig Kirkwood. Both have run 2:13 marathons, and used this event as part of their preparations for qualifying for the Athens Olympic marathon. On the tough course and windy conditions Warrander finished in an outstanding 1:05:48, with Kirkwood six minutes adrift.
Nina Rillstone of Auckland upstaged world mountain running champion Melissa Moon of Wellington in the women’s Half Marathon, winning in 1:15:22. Moon was exactly a minute behind, just ahead of her teammate Katie Urquhart.
Last year’s BMW Auckland Half Marathon winner Scott Winton of Auckland was running in just his second marathon, and was probably regretting the decision to do so as he was heading back to the finish into the strong wind on Tamaki Drive. He lead the Marathon field throughout, and not even the usually strong finishing Mark Hutchinson could not reel him in at the end. “I’m Stuffed, mate,” said Winton after crossing the finish line at Victoria Park in 2:30:06. “That was hard work into that wind, it was like running into a brick wall.” Hutchinson, a three-time winner of the Auckland Marathon, finished almost a minute back, and said that the wind was worth about five minutes. A former Aucklander now living in Queensland, Hutchinson has been selected to represent Australia in the World 10km Championships in Taiwan. Peter van Wijngaarten from South Australia was third.
Nicole Cope of Henderson was probably also regretting her decision to use the BMW Auckland Marathon for her debut over the 42.2km distance. She found the first half quite enjoyable, with the crowds of spectators on the North Shore, but found it hard work fighting the wind on the second half. She was a comfortable winner, though, in 2:55:45, about six minutes ahead of last years winner Zelah Morrall of Whangarei. Cope is twice New Zealand Half Ironman champion and three-times national duathlon champion, and is looking forward to getting back to the shorter Multisport events.
The 10km left from Fisherman’s Wharf in Birkenhead at the quite sensible time of 8.00am, to avoid clashed with the half marathoners and marathoners on the bridge. This new event added to mark the 10th anniversary under the BMW banner proved to be very popular, particularly amongst companies. Vodafone had the largest corporate representation, with 193 entered in total across all the events. Baxter Healthcare, too, had over 100.
With the rain holding off the thousands of tired, sore but satisfied finishers took time off to relax at the Victoria Park finish, some already planning for next year’s event. Although this was BMW’s last year as major sponsor, the organisers are working hard to prepare for the 2004 event, which will take place on Sunday 31 October.
Keep an eye on www.aucklandmarathon.co.nz for updates and race information.
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