The Smallwood Mountain Run Challenge wrapped on Sunday with all 30 runners having an amazing time on both the 12 km and 25 km courses.
The 12 km race in the men’s category was dominated by two LV Rogers cross country team members and their coach.
Grade 12 student Shawn Degroot blazed to finish in 1:10:33 while Peter Lock took second in 1:17:00. Coach Graham Marshall who was overtaken in the last 500 metres by Lock finished a close third in 1:17:20.
In the women’s category, race sponsor Jill Winters from Snowpack Outdoor Experiences finished first in 1:38:29, Kim Irving came in second in 1:47:15, followed closely by Sarah Dobell in 1:50:42.
The “to be named later trail” built by the Nelson Cycling Club formed part of the challenging and spectacular 25 km course featuring excellent views of the Valhalla’s to the north.
All the long course athletes finished energized and stoked from running the new race route.
Two members of the local Kootenay Kaos Team that participated in the grueling 400 km Raid the North adventure race six weeks ago seem to have now fully recovered with team captain Nelson Rocha coming in first in 2:39:00 team mate Sasha Kalabis came second in 2:46:01 and ageless legend Lex Baas third in 3:03:38.
On the women’s side Carolyn Donnelly from Squamish was first in 3:06:25, Sarah Sheehan second in 3:07:08 and third place went to Genevieve LaChance in 3:12:58.
A total of $835 was raised and donated towards the Habondia’s Community WISH Project.
For more results go to nelsonstrailrunningseries.blogspot.com/
Special thanks to Snowpack and NRG for their support and Randy Richmond and Bill Harbord for making it all happen.