The return of the Waipā Fun Run on Sunday March 5 was welcomed by both competitors and organisers as an impressive 647 runners and walkers completed the course.
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- Mel O’Brien (Otorohanga -737) was the first female home in the 5km run in 19:08 and third overall.
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- Morrinsville’s Amelia Kerr (162) of St Joseph’s School watches from behind as St Peter’s Catholic schoolmates Zara Sudfeldt (205) and Grace Littlejohn (204) cross the line in 19th and 20th in the year 7 and 8 2km race.
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- Colin Johnston (33) of Cambridge Middle School just edges ahead of Henry Eisenbarth (244) from St Peter’s Catholic School but both crossed the line in 6:46 to come first and second in the Year 7 and 8 2km race.
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- Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade ran in full gear carrying a stretcher full of fire fighting equipment. From left: Leon Vincent (773), Michael Morton (772), Phil Johnston (774), Tyler Six (775), Caleb Hassman (771).
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- Hayley Dibley (740) of Cambridge was fourth in the 5km female section.
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- Patrick Taylor (769) from Cambridge Vets takes an emergency call during the 5km run while his workmate Bill Hancock (705) strides ahead.
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- Papamoa’s Seth Herbert (571) beat Sam Montgomerie of Cambridge (745) in the 5km run. Here they are at the start of the run leading the field over the High Level Bridge.
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- Thumbs up from Ryan McGowan (415) of Ōhaupō on his way to 15th in the 10km run.
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- Yvette Jackson (577) of Te Awamutu had a couple of companions with her on the 5km run and walk. She finished a respectable 47th in 31:57.
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- Pukeatua’s Emma Stichbury of Cambridge Middle School (42) in the Year 7 and 8 2km challenge.
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- Hautapu School runners in the Year 5 and 6 event during the warm up, from left: Flynn Jones (246,) Cruden Cummings (100), Archie Dean (101), Mitchell Harrison (105) and Tennyson Brook (104).
Sunday’s St Peter’s Catholic School’s Lugtons Waipā Fun Run race marked the event’s return after Covid restrictions saw it cancelled last year. The school’s organising committee, comprising event co-ordinator Donna Warwick, principal Anita Asumadu, Nic Peacocke, Lee Powell and Jacqui McCann, were thrilled at this year’s turnout.
“After being told that this should be treated as a re-building year post-Covid and not to be too disillusioned if numbers were down, we were blown away that 647 runners and walkers completed the course,” Donna said on Monday. “Seeing all the happy faces of the children as they ran through the finish line really makes all the hard mahi worth it.”
Participants came from around the region.
Cambridge’s Matthew Hallam took out first place in the 10km run/walk, with Hamilton’s Michael Robinson coming in second and Hamilton’s Joe Mace third.
The Cambridge Vets 5km run/walk was won by Papamoa’s Seth Herbert, with Cambridge’s Sam Montgomerie coming in second and Ōtorohanga’s Mel O’Brien third.
The Kaz 2km School Challenge (Year 7-8) was won by Cambridge Middle School’s Colin Johnston with St Peter’s Catholic School student Henry Eisenbarth coming in second, and Ryan Mourits of St Joseph’s School in Morrinsville third.
The Kaz 2km School Challenge (Year 5-6) was won by Cambridge Primary School’s Joshua Barclay, from Goodwood School’s Quinn Davis and Cambridge East School’s Abel Bartz.
The Kaz 2km School Challenge (Year 3-4) was won by Lewis Verner from St Joseph’s School in Morrinsville. Goodwood School’s George Campbell was second and Ryan Morton of Te Awamutu’s Puahue School was third.
Orchard Valley Glamping won the Cambridge Steel Fabricators & Engineers Team Challenge, with Reform Cambridge and Cambridge Vets coming in second and third respectively.
