26th Annual

Thursday, December 26, Boxing Day, 2024. First runners start around 10:00 a.m.

Online registration for 2024 is OPEN

2023 results by placing & time; and photos

Race Information

This amazing, staggered start handicap race where anyone can win often attracts an international field competing for fame and fortune.  Recent races have seen entrants from as far away as Comox BC, Canmore AB, Hamilton ON, Wolfville NS, Richland WA, Houston TX, Bloomington IN, SE Asia, London England and Norway.  Ok, it's just people here for the holidays and some locals competing for quirky prizes and socializing at the Prairie Inn* after, but it's a club tradition centred at our founding and namesake venue.  Oh, and it's free and almost everyone gets a prize!  *if it is open as it hasn't been in recent years due to holiday staffing issues, so we went somewhere else nearby

There is a single lap 5-Mile option and NEW is a more TRAIL HANDICAP through nearby parks with a significant steep climb to the summit lookout. hey Jeremy

There is also a concurrent dog-friendly Harriers Hounds Hike on the trails of nearby Mt Newton.

Date/Time

Always on December 26, Boxing Day which in 2024 is a Thusday.  Handicapped start times are determined by your best race performances within the last two years.  The idea being everyone should finish at about the same time.  First runners will start at about 10:00 a.m. and all runners should finish before noon.  Registrants will be informed of their exact handicapped starting time a few days prior to the race.  Those at bottom below from some recent years should give you an idea of the range, while those already assigned for this year are shown here:

Assigned Start Times

none assigned yet for 2024

2023 Assigned Start Times as of Mon Dec 25 10:30pm
  10 Mile
     9:59         Barry Roscoe
    10:03        Alison Dickson
    10:09         Shaun Humpreys
    10:20     Nathaniel Roberts
    10:22       Mercury Beaton
    10:25       Christy Gain, Gonzalo Espinosa, Angela MacLean
    10:27         Steve Hallam
    10:30          Sean Mitchell
    10:31          Mark Seebaran
    10:32           Tim Hatfield
    10:33      Harrison Elliott
    10:38      Harrison Ellis
    10:42         Keith Mills
    10:47        Andrew Russell
  5 Mile
    10:29     Christine Thate
    10:46          Jane McDonald
    10:50         Susan Chambers
    10:54       Kristin Schnurr, Joy Croll, Nadine Stofer
    10:57         Karey Billyard, Aaron Brody
    10:58          Stan Budden
    11:00       Jeffrey Smith
    11:02          Yuki Otsubo

Location

Driveway outside Prairie Inn Neighbourhood Pub, 7806 East Saanich Road, Saanichton, BC.

Road Course

Mainly country roads along a rural valley, somewhat undulating in places.  Double out-and-back course as follows: Start northbound on East Saanich Road at the Prairie Inn Pub for one block, left onto Wallace for one block, right onto Mt. Newton Cross Road for about 2 miles, left onto West Saanich, approx. 100 metres south on W. Saanich to the turnaround point*, retrace route.  Repeat for 10-Mile Handicap.  Participants are expected to obey local traffic laws.  Run safe!
Map: http://gmap-pedometer.com?r=6767896

*A cone may or may not be present on race day, as may signs each mile.

Accurately measured 10 miles (16.09344 kilometres).

Trail Course

A recent option for the Boxing Day Handicap that includes undulating trails through Butterfield, Brown's Wood, Haldon and John Dean parks with a significant steep climb to the Mt Newton summit lookout and a more gentle descent down Merrill Harrop.

Map of potential route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38183615
NOTE: Participants are responsible for their own way-finding!

About 15km with the first 2.8km and last 5.7km along road, often with an adjacent unpaved path. Don't worry, although the middle trail sections are less than half the total distance they will take more than half your time, especially the significant steep climb to the summit which is about 5.4km in.

Race Records

Handicap: Josephine Hees, 25:59 under handicap time, 1999
Outright: Male: Sean Chester, 54:34, 2011; Female: Lise Wessels, 1:02:15, 2003

Features

The perfect tune-up for the Frontrunners Island Race Series! The only organized, accurate run at the classic 10-mile distance on the island (and the first since the Harriers Tower 10-miler in 1992). A chance to burn off some holiday flab. A socially stimulating brunch in the pub follows the run (PHO permitting).

Entry Fee

Free

Registration

Maximum 60 registrations accepted - first come, first served.

Please register online for FREE by December 25

Categories

None - it's a handicap race, the winner's the winner.

No Frills/No Whining

There will be limited food and/or fluid at the finish, possibly including water, mini oranges, candy canes, and leftover Christmas cookies. Be prepared by bringing your own refreshments / contributions and a change of clothes. The (family friendly) pub opens at 11:00. Whining is completely forbidden, and any suspected instance puts the whiner at risk of being assessed penalty minutes.

Award Presentations

There may be a trophy or plaque for the winner. If so, it will be awarded immediately at the finish. There may also be random draw prizes of questionably useful items. Feel free to contribute re-giftings.

Support

There will be one fluid stop, at the start/halfway/finish point. This also provides an opportunity to shed clothing at the half-way point.

2021 Report

Thank you to everyone who registered for, and congratulations to those who braved the elements and conditions to contest the Harrier’s 23rd Annual Boxing Day Handicap, and to Joseph for photographing.

While numbers were smaller for various reasons, it will definitely be memorable.  Sure it was cold (-6°C) with some wind (NE 10 kmh with gusts to 25) by the Prairie Inn making standing around uncomfortable, and the roads & paths were covered with a few centimetres of fresh snow making it tricky underfoot & slowing your pace, but it was mostly calm & quiet along the route with classic wintry views of dusted trees & bucolic valley.

One person signed up for the Trail Summit Handicap, but being only marginally familiar with some of the trails, wisely switched to the road.

There were just two finishers in the classic double lap 10-Mile event, and it was an exciting finish with Jeff Hunt who started seven minutes behind, expending himself to close the gap up the final hill and Mark Seebaran just able to hold him off along the ending sidewalks to take the placement win by two seconds.  Assigned start handicapping at its best.

Jeff’s running time of 1:14:40 was best though, and his average pace of 4:38 was the fastest overall.

The single lap 5-Mile event had 3 starters and 4 finishers as Christopher Kelsall who started the double lap was "one and done” after a mid-lap “full chester” personal break.  The actual finish spread among the four was almost 33 minutes as no one started at their assigned time totally defeating the intention of the handicap race.  Some finished before the recorder was back, and left so early they missed the prizes.  All were assessed some penalty minutes.  After adjusting for the start offsets and penalties the spread of placement times was down to a more respectable 4 minutes and 53 seconds.

Laura Wyatt was the adjusted placement winner of the 5-Mile Half Handicap, with a 1:44 lead over runner-up Buddy Bhandar.

Race director Gary Duncan has the best performance of the day at 67% and the best 5-Mile race running time of 40:28 which he partially attributes to removal of extra layers at the start and YakTrax underfoot.

Laura was also the overall top placer finishing just over 6-minutes off target.  The top three 5-Mile placers, even with their penalty assessments were all ahead of the 10-Milers overall which is likely more a reflection of how much the conditions slowed everyone than of their actual handicapped performance.

Results

Computer results may be posted on the internet the day of the race or in the days following.

2023 by Placing & Time – 2022 by Placing & Time – 2021 Results – 2018 by Placing & Time – 2017 by Placing & Time – 2016 by Placing & Time – 2015 by Placing & Time – 2014 by Placing &  Time – 2013 by Placing & Time – 2012 – 2011 – 2010 – 2009 – 2008 – 2007 – 2006 – 2005 – 2004 – 2003 – 2002 – 2001 – 2000 – 1999

Some results may be missing. This may or may not be rectified eventually. Just remember: no-frills race.

Past assigned Start Times

2022 Assigned Start Times 
  10 Mile
    10:00       Ignacio Bettiol Ereño
    10:10          Lisa Moody
    10:16         Steve Hallam
    10:19          Paul Yorke
    10:25        Angela MacLean
    10:31          Mark Seebaran
    10:32          Sean Mitchell
    10:36        Johnny Atkinson
  5 Mile
    10:29          Noah Ghourani
    10:29     Catherine Ghourani
    10:53         Susan Chambers
    10:55         Buddy Bhandar
    10:58         Edith Price
    11:00          Karl Maier
    11:00          Evan Maier
    11:01       Jeffrey Smith
    11:01           Tim Green
    11:03         David Hoskins
    11:06          Gary Duncan

2021 Assigned Start Times 
 10:17        Paul Yorke
 10:22 Christopher Kelsall
 10:26      Angela MacLean
 10:28        Mark Seebaran
 10:30       Marao Akoar
 10:34        Sean Mitchell
 10:35        Jeff Hunt
  5 Mile
 10:52       Laura Wyatt
 10:53      Marcia Stromsmoe
 11:03       Buddy Bhandar
 11:06        Gary Duncan

2019 Assigned Start Times 
 09:43        Lisa MacMain
 09:58      Gordon Quigley
 10:05     Antonia Frappell
 10:06       Tracy Voorthuyzen
 10:07      Joanne Frappell
 10:08        Jack Petrie
 10:09        Dawn Connolly
 10:10     Shannon Szymczakowski
 10:12       Angie Johnson
 10:13       Janet Green
 10:17     Gregory Caws
 10:22         Dan Willis
 10:23     Richard Frappell
 10:24       David Lariviere
 10:25        Kipp Weisbrod
 10:27      Angela MacLean
 10:28    Matthias Schoeck
 10:29         Reg Willick, Robert Grant, Jeff Beddoes
 10:30       Emily Taylor
 10:32       Randy Humble
 10:33        John Catterall
 10:34       Lance Watson
 10:36         Tom Rushton
 10:39       Chris Albertson, Greg Broadworth
 10:46        Sean Chester
Unsure which
 10:34/11:08  Gary Duncan
 10:43/11:13 Shane Ruljancich
 5 Mile
 10:49        Gwen Cole
 10:52    Catherine Caws
 10:55     Colleen Vanderheide, Marcia Stromsmoe
 10:58       Megan Pomper
 11:00        Emma Rutledge
 11:01      Graham Fisher
 11:02         Kay Van Akker

2018 Assigned Start Times 
 10:00     Antonia Frappell
 10:01      Joanne Frappell
 10:11       Tracy Voorthuyzen
 10:17 Christopher Kelsall, Lindsey Fraser
 10:20      Franck Germain
 10:28    Matthias Schoeck, Jeff Beddoes
 10:29     Michael Richards
 10:35      Jeremy Lawrence
 10:36     William Boothman
 10:40       Chris Callendar
 10:43       Shane Ruljancich

2017 Assigned Start Times 
 09:44     Jill Cowan
 10:05	   Paul Hoffman
 10:08	Bernice Smith
 10:11    Janet Green, Paul Kaufman, Peter Jensen
 10:21    Keith Scott-Polson
 10:22     Adam Hill
 10:23   Robert Grant
 10:24     Mark Shier
 10:26     Jeff Beddoes, Luis González
 10:27   Graham Fisher, Pat Peron
 10:28   Franck Germain, Denisse Justiniano
 10:32   Joseph Camilleri
 10:33    Chris Shier
 10:34     Gary Duncan
 10:37    Chris Albertson, Lyndon Clazie
 10:41    Chris Callendar
 10:44	  Shane Ruljancich
5 Mile
 11:00    Laura Wyatt, Dawn Wilson

2016 Assigned Start Times
 09:57   Maryse Poulin
 10:11     Mike Ellis
 10:13     Tina Lulic, Marcia Stromsmoe
 10:21	    Bob Janicki
 10:24     Seán Finucane
 10:25	 Melody Haddow, Mark Shier
 10:27	   Jeff Beddoes
 10:28	 Graham Fisher
 10:30	 Graham Hill
 10:33	  Buddy Bhandar
 10:35  William Boothman
 10:37     Gary Duncan
 10:38 Patricia Roney
 10:40	   Mike Angrove
 10:41	  Chris Callendar
 10:42	Matthew Winkler
 10:43	  Shane Ruljancich 

2015 Assigned Start Times
 10:07  Bernice Smith
 10:10      Ian Davis
 10:17	  Trish Schiedel
 10:18      Amy Dearden, Robert Grant
 10:21  Vanessa Le
 10:24	   Mark Shier
 10:27	  Frank Towler, Anthony Jeffrey, Jeff Beddoes
 10:28	 Graham Fisher
 10:33	  Steve Schiedel, Mr. Dearden
 10:34   Graham Hill
 10:35  William Boothman, Michael Lawless
 10:36    Chris Albertson
 10:38	   Arif Merali, Gary Duncan
 10:44	  Shane Ruljancich

Information

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – Race Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. continuing along the traditions of long-time director Sylvan Smyth