25th Annual
Tuesday, December 26, Boxing Day, 2023. First runners start around 10:00 a.m.
Online registration for 2023 is CLOSED – See you in 2024
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!
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 2023 is a Tuesday. 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
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 new 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 Times10:17 Paul Yorke10:22 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 10:22Adam Hill10:23 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