Coast to Coast 'junkie' up for one last crack

By Jamie Troughton | 9th February 2010

Sharon Jackman reckons her hubby is mad but Russell Jackman is adamant he's rediscovered the elixir of youth.

Somewhere in the middle the truth will lie but in the meantime, Jackman will find himself lining up in the dark on the South Island's Kumara Beach early on Friday morning with a gleam in his eye.

It's been 14 years since the Tauranga company director last competed in the Speights Coast to Coast but a week out from his 60th birthday, he couldn't resist another crack, competing in a two-day team with Tauranga runner Robin Connor.

"I've promised this to myself for years - I always intended entering when I turned 60 because you used to get it free at that age," Jackman explained. "Of course, they've changed the rules because there are so many fit old bastards around, but I always intended coming back.

"I probably won't do it again - this will be it - but I've really enjoyed going paddling again and getting fit again."

WESTERN BAY COAST TO COASTERSTwo-day team: Robin Connor, 53, Tauranga/Russell Jackman, 59, Tauranga

Two-day individual: Grant Wilson, 38, Tauranga

Longest day: Owen Coster, 42, Tauranga; Dwarne Farley, 37, Mount Maunganui; Richard Genefaas, 48, Tauranga; Josef Langreiter, 47, Tauranga; Dion Mair, 30, Tauranga; Greg Meikle, 39, Tauranga; Mark Pratt, 39, Mount Maunganui; Sonya Thompson, 37, Papamoa.