Clinton in cruise control for St Clair Half

The first time Clinton Manderson ran in the Saint Clair Half, north-west of Blenheim, he got lost. Now it’s his rivals losing sight of the Tasman carpet layer who has become one of region’s leading long-distance runners.

You could say he ripped the rug from under them or wiped the floor, as he won the 2025 edition by more than half a minute in a time of one hour 16 minutes and 11 seconds.

Cruising, so much so he could have stopped for a tipple along the way.

“Back in 2019, a few of us took a wrong turn and added four kilometres to the vineyard half,” recalls Clinton, who recovered to finish fifth that first year. He went back in 2022 to win the scenic and very social event which winds through Rapaura vineyards, up and over short stop banks and alongside the Wairau River before returning to Saint Clair’s kitchen where finishers receive a bottle of wine rather than medal.

These days, he describes himself as quite competitive. Actually, addicted to running for the past four years.

His latest Marlborough race came just weeks after finishing ninth in the annual Christchurch Marathon. After laying carpet all day, he likes nothing more than clocking up the kms after a job that fortunately doesn’t take a toll on his knees.
Touch wood, as he says.

“There are plenty of awesome cycle trails to train on in Tasman,” he quips.
Motorists have probably also spotted him striding it out alongside motorways.
He also pops into the Saxton Field athletic track for speed work.

Thankfully, the 31-year-old has a high pain tolerance as he has developed asthma.
“It affects my breathing and my lungs, but I just have to suck it up.” He can’t shake the respiratory disease and health specialists can’t get to the bottom of how it came about.

Clinton contested his first marathon in 2016 and at his 20th start won his first, the Dunedin Marathon last year in race record time 2.32.11.

After relaxing and recovering from his Blenheim outing, his next major goal is the Auckland Marathon at Labour Weekend. That was the scene of his first one back in 2016 and he has returned four times, but not since 2020.

He’s got faster each year as his passion has taken him all over the place. Queenstown, Buller, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Taupo, to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Closer to home, Clinton combined with Chris Sharland, competing as Pan Head Super Chargers, to make no race of the relay section in last year’s Monaco Mid-Winter Marathon.

“I will probably do the relay again in July,” confirms Clinton. No wonder he goes through up to six pairs of running shoes a year.