2018

CHAMPIONS

The Road race is a highlight for athletes, from across the region, who come together annually to compete against others on a very fast course. Runners compete in their own grades and can become thier age grade champions. The pinnacle events though are the Open men
and Open women's grades. Winners of these races will be the first person (in each gender) to win the 10km race irrespective of age, and here are the best of the best: 

the overall "2018 Champions of the Roads".

Andy Good
2018 MENS 
CANTERBURY
OPEN CHAMPION 
OF THE ROAD 

Andrea Hewitt
2018 WOMENS 

CANTERBURY OPEN CHAMPION 
OF THE ROAD 

Andy is registered with Canterbury Athletics via the University of Canterbury Athletic club and has always enjoyed his trail running. He is taking on short fast running with gusto. After placing so well in the 2018  Canterbury Road Champs, Andy went on to take 12th place in National Road Run Champs. His trail running continues and he smashed the race record for the Luxmore Grunt later in the 2018. Then, to finish the year well, he won the Open 10,000m Run at the Christmas cracker Twilight Meeting at Ngā Puna Wai on 28 December 2018. He has started 2019 on a roll, winning the Wanaka Skyline Traverse trail race and the Mountain running championships in April and hopes to represent NZ later in the year.

"In my short time competing so far I have certainly learned that a relaxed and calm approach always makes for a better race experience.

It's not the end of the world if it doesn’t go to plan, there is always another opportunity around the corner.

It's just running!"

It is no wonder that Andrea came out top last year. Andrea is a local Cantabrian Olympian triathlete champion and we enjoy having her compete alongside us.

Andrea learned to swim at age four and started competing in swimming competitions from the age six. At the age of 11, she joined the South Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club and represented New Zealand in 2001 in Surf Life Saving. She has been a member of New Brighton Olympic Athletics Club (previously called New Brighton in those days) since she was a child.

Andrea Hewitt has won a total of 27 medals at World Cups, world triathlon series and world championship events, including a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She has posted 25 consecutive top 10 placings in elite races dating back over the past two years. 

She has also gone to three Olympic Games, in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

In the 2018 Takahē to Akaroa Relay (which was also the National Road Relay Champs), Andrea set a new lap Masters Women's record for lap 2 and put New Brighton Olympic in a good position, finally winning a Silver medal in the Masters Women division.

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"I still have no injuries and I still love all the training."