The XCR competition headed down to surf coast for the return of the Ekiden Relay. The trails at Anglesea were unanimously considered challenging but enjoyable by the bunch of hardy Harriers who made the journey.

Unfortunately our numbers were thin due to injuries, with makeshift men’s division three and four teams and an invitational women’s division two team cobbled together.

Jaco Kukkuk took on the first leg for the division three team, but along with several other first leg runners, fell victim to a confused marshal who diverted them down the third leg course. Despite the hiccup, Jaco put in a good performance to run 7.9km in 31:50 with plenty left in the tank. Marcus, Damien and Shaun got through the second, third and fourth legs, with Dan Haliday running strongly to complete the 5.2km final leg in 21:47.

Meanwhile, in the division four team, Nicki Macfarlane went the right way to record a very good 46:12 on the 9.8km first leg. Caroline, Francis and Jay ran well through the middle legs before Jamie Ruskin, unwell the day before, put in a gutsy performance to finish the final leg in 33:19.

Our invitational women’s team occasioned comment with Jono lining up for the first leg, then Frances and Wendy following. All three ran well and would be handy inclusions in our official teams next year (hint hint).