![Ariki’s Catherine Lund gets ahead during the Leith Country Relays. PHOTOS: SIMON HENDERSON](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/05/star16leithrelay3.jpg?itok=Y-1W1mYJ)
The varied course across grassy but bumpy ground had competitors racing carefully around the 2km course.
![Runners set off at the start of the 42nd Leith Country Relays on Saturday.](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/05/star16leithrelay1.jpg?itok=yE3tEwqM)
Overall winners in the "Long Trot" 4 x 900m relay Boys and Girls Under 14 category were the Ariki Boys U14 team of Taylor Martin, Sammy Walker and Hugh Walker, with a time of 16min.
![Hill City-University’s Jack McNeil sets the pace during the 42nd Leith Country Relays.](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/05/star16leithrelay2.jpg?itok=jbryNgfm)
The MM35+ category was won by the Leith MM35+ team of Steven Morrison, Aaron Eyles, Richard Campbell and Nathan Shanks, with a time of 1hr 3min 6sec.
![Hill City-University’s Leia Silby taps her fellow team member Cilla Dickinson to start her lap...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/05/star16leithrelay5.jpg?itok=ArFS2UYL)
The open women’s category was won by the Leith OW1 team of Kristy Eyles, Katie Smith, Margie Campbell and Mel Aitken, with a time of 1hr 11min 43sec.
![Leith’s Gaya Gnanalingam nears the end of her lap during the Leith Country Relays.](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/05/star16leithrelay4.jpg?itok=tJ_GnjlV)
Last year’s overall winner was Caversham athlete Ben Pigou, who completed 18 laps in 2 hours 56min 12sec.
This year, however, he had to settle for second place, as he was pipped at the post by Leith’s Nic Bathgate, who completed 19 laps in 2hr 56min 32sec, about four minutes ahead of Pigou.
The women’s record holder last year was Don Greig Racing Stables runner Emma Timmis, who completed 16 laps in 2hr 53min 39sec.
![Leith’s Steve Tripp maintains his pacing during the Ponydale Challenge.](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/05/star16leithrelay7.jpg?itok=zp2JIMNS)