Around Island Relay
Around the Island Relay Race 2024
Athletics Norfolk Island hosted the annual Around Island Relay on Sunday 3rd November, with a strong registration boasting 86 entrants.
The individual runner category is a grueling 25K course, represented by seven courageous individuals who set off from the Gallows Gate start line. Douglas Donaldson, who began the race well after the rest of the field due to age and gender handicaps, overtook the competition over the course to secure the podium position once again. Second place was awarded to Pauly Browne, who ran an outstandingly improved race compared to previous years. Erica Sterling claimed third place, clearly showing her ability and base fitness for endurance events.
Around the Island Relay Race 2023
The annual Around Island Relay was run Sunday 5th November 2023 with an enthusiastic group of runners and walkers.
The Individual Runner category hosted a large field of seven runners this year. It’s a difficult course and these courageous athletes opted to run the entire 25K course alone; and all came home with outstanding results.
Aiden Carlton ran a very impressive 1:53:32 to win the event, smashing the 2hour mark with his blisteringly quick performance. In second place was 18yr old Koszta Deszecsar who’s outstanding run also broke the 2hour mark with a time of 1:59:39. Third place was taken out by Matthew Sommerville with another quality time of 2:04:39.
Around the Island Relay Race 2022
Sunday, 6th November 2022 saw another impressive line-up of athletes and supporters for the running of the 2022 Around Island Relay. Gallows Gate was appropriately gloomy and windy for the 6am sunrise start of the walking athletes; and the 7:15am staggered start for the running teams and individuals.
The winner of the Individual Running category was presented to Trevor Fulton who showed the quality of his athleticism, winning with a time of 2:18:21. Trevor’s individual race was run with the confidence of an athlete displaying a high level of fitness from years of training for these gruelling distances. Ash McKellar was second over the line with an impressive performance after starting the race 7:08mins behind Trevor once the age handicaps were applied.
Around the Island Relay Race 2021
BEN HAYES WINS THE 2021 AROUND ISLAND RELAY, WITH A BLISTERINGLY QUICK RUNNING TIME.
Last Sunday, 7th November saw another impressive line-up of athletes and supporters for the running of the 2021 Around Island Relay, with a stunning morning at Gallows Gate for the 6am sunrise start of the walking athletes; and the 7:15am staggered start for the running teams and individuals.
The winner of the ‘blue ribbon’ category of Individual Runner was originally presented to Trevor Fulton who showed the quality of his athleticism, only to realise the following day that he had unknowingly taken a wrong turn on unfamiliar roads and not completed the full 25K course.
First prize was then deservedly awarded to Ben Hayes, who ran a blisteringly quick time of 2:08:55 to take out the 2021 Competition.
Around the Island Relay Race 2020
Sunday the 1st of November witnessed another impressive line-up of athletes and supporters for the running of the 2020 Around the Island Relay. With 80 competitors registered this year, it was a large field that gathered at Gallows Gate for the sunrise start.
The ‘blue ribbon’ category of individual runners was contested by five gutsy athletes who put in enormous effort with inspirational performances. Douglas Donaldson took the win in great family tradition, with a clinically calculated run. Second place was ably awarded to Dayne O’Hara who ran with a showing of athletic experience to take an impressive silver. Third place was handed to ‘The Legend’ of the Around Island Relay, Richard Cribb who was battling calf cramps early in the race that resulted in him nursing the ailment for the majority of the 25k’s. Eric Hutchinson was next across the line in 4th place with a quality, individual 25k run through the difficult hilly terrain, less than 40 minutes behind the winner who ran a time of 2 hrs 21 minutes on 28yr old legs.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2019
The 2019 Around the Island Relay welcomed nearly 70 participants ranging in age from 8 through to 78 and despite the start time adjustments having to be made for the recent impact of daylight saving, everyone made the start line on time and keen to tackle the 25 or so kilometers of one of the worlds most picturesque road relay locations.
Sunday the 3rd of November dawned a little overcast but it also delivered the perfect conditions for the staging of the Relay. A briefing on safety and course layout from the officials was the usual entree to the main event and with the individual walkers and those tasked with the first leg of the team walk event ready and rearing to race the mass start got underway at 6.00am.
Very quickly the father and son duo of Ben and Harrison Hayes stamped their dominance on the field , taking a healthy lead in the first 150 meters before the turn into Quality Row.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2018
Another gutsy performance from Richard Cribb delivered him a great win in the 2018 Around the Island Relay, despite carrying a niggling knee injury. His time of 2 hours 29 minutes for the 25 km course was around 15 minutes slower than his winning effort in 2017 but, as they say,“ a win is a win” and his prize of a $150 voucher from World Traders will ensure he is well shod for next years event.
Sunday the 4th of November witnessed another impressive line up of athletes and supporters for the running of the 2018 Around the Island Relay. With almost 80 competitors, this year saw a preference for the walking challenge with record numbers of individual (14) and walks teams (6).
Around the Island Relay and Race 2017
As the walkers gathered outside the compound at Slaughter Bay the sun began its rise on yet another edition of the annual Around the Island Relay and Race. With a 5.00 a.m. start the walks contingent set off, in a mass start, at a very leisurely pace under the watchful eye of starter Peter Arthur. Amongst their number was perennial favourite Jenny Donaldson, who had taken out previous individual walks titles, but a younger generation of challengers were about to set about changing things. Joss Hall, Hannah Taylor, Jessica Scott and Korin Bachmann all looked dangerously fit as they began the 25kms trek around the Island and approaching the first water station at the school, they had Jenny in their sights and winning on their minds.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2016
5.00 a.m. Sunday the 13th November and the scene was again set for the start of the 2016 Around the Island Relay and Race. Despite less than the usual number of entries in the walks section, the family team of Ben and Harry Hayes joined Sandra Anderberg and Maree Reynolds at the start line in front of the Kingston Compound. Ben and Harry got off to a solid start and made the climb up Driver Christian Road look effortless and leading the walkers through the school checkpoint by 5.30 a.m. Maree Reynolds (Christian Brothers Cheese team) pushed hard to stay in contact with the Hayes team and followed them through to the school a matter of only 30 metres or so behind, before handing over the next relay leg to Glen Christian. Sandra Anderberg was through the check point soon after to send husband, George, on his leg up to the top of Red Road.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2015
The sight of rain clouds over Philip Island did not deter this years entrants in the Around the Island Relay and the Walkers were set and ready to go by the official start time of 5.15am.
Eleven individuals chose to walk the entire course with an additional 6 Walks teams making up the field. Joining the Walkers this year, by request, was Angela Pinson (better known as a champion power lifter and very new Mum) who was the only female entrant in the individual run.
As occurred last year the entire Walks field started “en masse” at 5.15 am, to ensure all walkers were back at Kingston in time for the sausage sizzle and prize giving. The final positions therefore were not to be known until the handicaps had been applied after the completion of the race.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2014
This years Around the Island Relay and Race attracted a solid field of over 80 competitors to walk and run on what is arguably one of the most scenic courses anywhere in the World, taking in spectacular coastal and cliff top views, the peace and tranquillity of the National Park setting and the stunning convict settlement precinct at Kingston.
The walkers, both individuals and teams, began their trek at 5.15 am in a mass start from the beachfront at Slaughter Bay. Made more interesting this year as each walker and team, with their respective handicaps, had to try and judge how fast they needed to go if they were to have a chance of winning the walks titles.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2013
With 101 entries the annual Around the Island Relay and Race was run early on Sunday morning the 3rd of November. Past individual walk winner, Jenny Donaldson, led off a record field of 38 individual and team walkers from the Kingston compound at 5.15 am.
Following the walkers, the individual runners and teams took to the course starting at 6.30 using the same staggered start handicap based on age and gender.
First off the mark was Jonny Sheridan's team followed by Ella Rogers in her first Round Island Relay, with the last team , led by Ben Thomas, starting some 23 minutes later and chasing hard to make up time and trying to reel in the front markers.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2012
Sunday the 2nd of December turned on the weather for the annual running of the Around the Island relay and race. The largest field in many years turned out with around 115 competitors entered in the various categories including individual walkers, the team walkers, individual runners and running teams.
The event brings together a smattering of science and lots of technical mathematics to determine starting handicaps regardless of age and gender, which in theory means that walkers or runners should, all things being equal, cross the finish line at the same time. The results certainly show that age, gender or experiences are no barrier to anyone making it to the winner’s podium and this year was no different.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2011
In another great display, Trevor Calder held of all challengers to register a hard fought win in the annual Around the Island Relay run in ideal conditions last Sunday morning. A toe injury to reigning champion Alan McNeil sidelined his attempt to notch up two wins in successive years but that didn’t prevent him coming out to support the field on the day.
With the walkers ready to lead off the competition at 5.15 am. on what was a glorious morning for a stroll around the Island, the tension was starting to take its toll with Corrine chomping at the bit and keen to get going before starters orders. With the field settled at last it was Corrine from “Shanks Pony” who led the way with a little under 5 minutes to the next starter Ian Kiernan (Still Thursti), followed out a minute or so later by Kim Nobbs.
Around the Island Relay and Race 2010
Attracting over 70 competitors and run over a course that weaves its way through Georgian era buildings, through the newly inscribed World Heritage site, up and down Norfolk’s steepest roads and terrain, along cliff tops and through rain forest trails the Athletics Norfolk Island “Around the Island Relay and Race” was run on Sunday 14th November.
Alan McNeill, the early favourite, put on a powerful running display to take the title at his first try. In a scorching time of 1hour 58 minutes for the very undulating 25km course Alan had to play catch up to seasoned campaigner, Trevor Calder, who had led off the race 11 minutes ahead of McNeill. By the end of the 3 rd stage and at the halfway point of the race Alan was still trailing Trevor by nearly 8 minutes but his determination paid off and by the time these two athletes entered the final stage Alan had taken the lead and crossed the line in first place with a 7 minute gap back to Trevor.
