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Running spectacle on city waterfront


HSBC Round the Bays Media Release

Sunday March 18 – for immediate release

Running spectacle on city waterfront

Tens of thousands of walkers, runners and wheelchair entrants hit the pavements in the 35th HSBC Round the Bays fun-run today, an 8.4m dash from Quay Street in central Auckland to Kohimarama on the waterfront.

The winning runners were assisted by a strong north-westerly tail-wind for much of the course, with the winner of each division finishing the race in a slightly faster time than last year.

The first entrant to cross the line was 15-year old Matthew Lack. A wheelchair division entrant, Matthew is from Opotiki but trains in Auckland, and is heading to South Africa for the IWAS World Junior Games in two weeks. Matthew completed the 8.4km course in 18 minutes and 31 seconds.

The first runner to finish was Commonwealth Games athlete Paul Hambelyn, in 26 minutes and 3 seconds. Paul, 26, is from Auckland’s North Shore, and placed fourth in the 1500m event at the Commonwealth Games last year. Paul has participated in Round the Bays nearly every year since he was a child.

The first female finisher, 22-year old Rowan Baird, finished in 30 minutes and 46 seconds. Rowan, who shares a track coach with Paul Hambelyn, is also one of the country’s top 1500m runners.

“HSBC Round the Bays is a world class community event,” says Norman Wilson, CEO, HSBC New Zealand. “Crossing the finish line is a real achievement and HSBC is proud to be associated with an event which brings Aucklanders together.”

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HSBC Round the Bays was initiated in 1972 by the Auckland Joggers Club. The first run attracted 1,200 participants and today it has grown to be one of the world’s largest fun-runs, with nearly 40,000 registered runners and an estimated 70,000 participants in total. The run is 8.4km long over a flat course that follows the contours of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour. It begins in the city on Quay St and finishes on the waterfront at St Heliers Bay.

Sponsors include HSBC, Provenco Technology, Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand, Watercare Services Limited, Alto and Mainfreight.

Full race results will be available at www.roundthebays.co.nz from Monday morning.

(ends)

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