Free Community and Combined Clubs
Bayfield Park 5km Handicap Cross Country

Bayfield Park, Shore Street, Dunedin

Saturday 23 May 2026

Meet at 1.30pm for 2pm start

Organised by Leith Harriers and Ariki Athletics

Ariki, Hill City-University, Caversham, Leith, Taieri, Civil Service, and all Otago, Southland and South Island clubs, North Island and join in this event

Event Description

This is a free Community and Combined Clubs Handicap 5km cross country event held around the manicured Bayfield Park fields (1km, 2km, options are also offered for the primary and intermiate school ages). Hill City-University and Ariki, Caversham and Civil Service will join Leith in this event and use the Leith Online Entry System. The 1km Lap grassed course (map below) is perfect as it provides good visual feedback as to how you are progressing. The Handicap, is a method of enabling the slowest walkers/runners to compete against the fastest. A different but fun way to walk and run. If you provide your most accurate current or predicted 5km (flat) time, we can calculate the start times for each person. If you get it right, everyone should be sprinting towards the finish together.

Ariki AC opens its Guthrie Pavilion Clubhouse which has change-rooms, showers and toilets. Ariki also provides, coffee, tea, fruit juice with refreshments aided by voluntary contributions by the competitors

The course which is run in a clockwise direction includes the notorious hill at the Somerville Street end, and an errant tree which loves to slap one’s face with its branches if you get too close to it

Report Summary

What an awesome afternoon of keen cross country running. The weather was a vast improvement from last year. Little wind, cool and plenty of sun. Thanks to all who competed, the organisers, volunteer helpers, marshalls, timekeepers, catering staff and supporters

The winner of the handicap race was Oli Lamb (UNA BU14). He was off at a handicap of 28:00.0 and crossed the line first in 55:16.0. His actual running time was 27:16.0. Second on handicap was Christopher Holmes (Leith MM50 – 59). He off a handicap of 33:00 and crossed the line in 0 55:21.2. His actual time was 22:21.2. Third on handicap was Hannah Barton (Leith WU20) off a handicap of 32:00.0 and crossed the line in 55:27.5. Her actual time was 23:27.5.

Fastest time honours went to Hill City-University runner Matt Bolter (Hill City-Uni SM) who ran it in 16:26.6. Second fastest time went to Josh Thorburn (UNA SM) who ran it in 16:41.6. Third fastest time went to McKay Watson (Leith SM) who ran it in 16:46.8

Fastest female runner was Olivia Sutherland (Leith SW) who ran it in 18:59.8 (10th fastest overall). Second fastest female was Florence Reynolds (Leith SW) who ran it in 19:12.1 (14th fastest overall). Third fastest female was Laura Bungard (Leith SW) who ran it in 19:23.0 (15th fastest overall)