Ussher Nets Third Classic Title at Gripping Routeburn Race
16.05.2006
A field of 117 runners assembled at The Divide, near Te Anau, for a chilly but dry 8am start to the Routeburn Classic Adventure Run, one of New Zealand’s classic races.Earlier in the week the likelihood of snow posed the biggest threat, but on Saturday only a smattering was visible. Ice proved to be the greatest challenge, with an event marshal positioned at the highest point of 1,255 metres describing the scene as “like ballerinas on ice.â€
Despite serious contention during the race for the Classic top spot, two-time Routeburn Classic winner Richard Ussher achieved a hat-trick, placing first with a time of 2:57:05. Martin Cox from the UK came second with a time of 3:09:16 and third over the line was Jim Hawkridge from Queenstown in 3:13:15.
First female over the line, setting a new women’s record was Elina Maki Rautila from Finland who completed the race in 3:30:58 – shaving two minutes and two seconds off Jeni Addams’ best time in 2002. Second placed female was Samantha Sigle from Christchurch in 3:38:39, followed by Melanie Smith from Arrowtown with a time of 3:49:20 in third place.
The third Routeburn Classic wasn’t short on drama.
Cox took off with a very strong start and was leading for around the first third of the 38km race. Ussher was catching up fast, however, and as Cox passed the Mackenzie Hut at the 12km point, Ussher was just three minutes behind.
By the time the pair reached the highest point of the race at the Harris Saddle, Cox had been overtaken by Ussher on the steep terrain and he then held a 51 second lead, which opened up as the race continued.
