The 2013 Nauti Travel Huntly Half Marathon is once again taking place this Sunday for the 33rd time in what has become a race rich in history and 2013 provides much the same.
The Half Marathon mens field is looking like a battle between the young guys in Alex Parlance and Jono Jackson up agains the more experienced runners in the likes of Graeme Pearson and Kerry Sutter, thrown into the mix Ironman Triathlon Champion Jamie Whyte and it is going to be an interesting race with no clear favourite.
The Womens field looks just as interesting with two past champions back in the form of Lisa Robertson and Lesley Turner-Hall, Robertson last years NZ Half Marathon Champion is favourite but there are set to be challenges from Turner-Hall, Fiona Eagles fresh off a good run at Rotorua Marathon and Hamilton Hawks runner and NZ Mountain Running Rep Helen Rountree.
The Half Marathon event also doubles as the Auckland Half Marathon Championships.
It isn't all for the fleet footed with the likes of Olympic Cycling Champion Sarah Ulmer, Former MP Lila Harre and Radio DJ Dominic Harvey all entered.
We have two men, Brian Smith (a local Huntly man who actually lives on the course) and David Armishaw that become Huntly Half Legends last year by completing their 30th Huntly Half event.
The 10km event is looking pretty fast woo with former NZ Champions Stephen Lett and Jason Cameron lining up against NZ Half Ironman Champion Graham O'Grady and ever consistent Michael Whitehead.
Holly Van Dalen, sister of NZ Olympian Lucy is the clear womens favourite and is set to give many of the men a hurry up.
New for 2013 is a 5km Fun Run and Fun Walk option to get more first timers into the event.
