Bentley Threepeats, Sets Course Record at Haney Harrison 100Km
Haney Harrison 100Km
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
Harrison Hot Springs, BC, Canada
Making it look easy, Darin Bentley of Surrey won the Haney to Harrison 100Km for the third consecutive year in a time of 7:39:44 knocking more than 12 minutes off the previous course record which had stood for 9 years. The race, which featured all 4 members of Canadas mens World Cup 100K team, started out fast with a close race to the half way point, but then Bentley steadily pulled away for the win finishing 35 minutes ahead of fellow World Cup team member Darren Froese of Victoria (8:15:01). Early leader Hassan Lofti-Pour of North Vancouver finished third in 8:25:09 ahead of Calgarys Richard Webb in 8:36:42 (also a World Cup team member).
Tania Whelan of Surrey took the womens race for the second straight year trimming more than 24 minutes off her previous years time to finish in 10:15:22. Second place in the women’s race went to Heather Flaherty of Nevada, Iowa in a time of 12:17:17 and 3rd place was taken by Penny Youngash of Surrey.
This year saw the first 10 time finishers of the race. Matt Sessions and Mark White both accomplished this feat. They each have now run the last 10 consecutive editions of the race, coming back year after year with consistent performances in conditions that have varied from ideal to downright miserable. This year they both earned bragging rights, not only for the 10 completions, but for doing it while drenched to the bone.
Race conditions could be described in one word wet with steady rain drizzle and mist all day long. The runners even experienced low cloud and fog at the summit of Mount Woodside. Temperatures were cool ranging from 5C at the start to 7C at the finish(low forties F)
The course consists of paved highways following British Columbia’s scenic Sasquatch Drive. Starting just outside Vancouver in Maple Ridge, the course winds its way over rolling hills, passing through Mission and into the lush farmlands of the Fraser Valley enroute to the finish in the idyllic resort community of Harrison Hot Springs. This year marked the 11th running of the event.
Of course, if it wasn’t for the volunteers, nobody would be running at all. This year, Cheryl Johnson, Rhonda Schuller and Cynnimon Rain came out to spend their day on the course helping others. 100 mile trail runner John Machray sacrificed a training day to see just how much fun a road 100Km can be in the rain. Veteran race announcer Steve King was on hand for the full day from the very first finisher to the very last finisher announcing the arrival of each runner. And of course, I can’t forget my own wife, Cathy, who just loves =:-0 to spend the day standing around drenched to the bone in monsoon conditions in November making sure that each of the runners is looked after. The race is held in conjunction with the Haney Harrison road relay. The efforts of relay race management made the whole event possible and the contributions of Miranda Reece and Brian McCalder cannot go unnoticed.
Full race results are at:
http://www.raceheadquarters.com/results/2007/run/H2H2007Ultra.html
33 starters
27 finishers
Ron Adams
H2H 100K Ultra Event Director
Planet Ultramarathon 
Posted on November 9, 2007 by planetultramarathon