Round the Mountain Relay attracts largest field

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 511, 9 November 1993, Page 12

Round the Mountain Relay attracts largest field

BY JENELLE FREWEN The Round The Mountain Relay is on again soon. This year has seen the largest entry field in the event's 22 year history, with 220 teams of between 10 and 12 people competing. The event will be raced in four main categories this year. The first, to start at 3.00am, is for

the social teams and they will be vying for 14 random prizes of $300 each. The next to start will be the composite teams at 3.30am. comprising of both men and women. Prize money for that class is $500 which will go to the winner. The veterans and the open class will start the first leg at 4.00am. The

veterans' prize money is $500 for first, while the winners of the open class will take home $800. The best teams are expected to finish the 150km relay in around nine and-a-half hours. The cut-off point on the day when all runners must be off the road is 6pm. As in the past

Dominion Breweries and ENZA are sponsoring the event but organisers are also looking for new sponsors for next year to cope with the ever-in-creasing fields. Organisers are expecting almost 3000 people to participate in the event in some way and therefore the 150km route will be carefully guarded to

maintain the events acci-dent-free record. The roads will remain open to traffic during the relay, held this year on Saturday 27 November, but police from this region will be lending their assistance and will be strictly enforcing the traffic infringement laws to make sure that non-one will be able to part in il-

legal or unsafe areas. To keep the route as uncongested as possible, bicycles, skates or other forms of transportation are not permitted to follow the runners. All those competing before sunrise will wear reflective clothing also. The route which is broken into 10 legs of approximately 15km each, begins outside the headquarters building inside the Waiouru Military Camp and heads north along the Desert Road to the Rangipo turnoff, about 50km away. From there competitors will head west, then south, along the National Park - Rangipo Road to National Park, about 90km from the starting point. From National Park the journey continues to Tohunga Junction along State Highway 4, then through Ohakune and back along State Highway 49 to the rugby oral's finishing line in

Waiouru. Marshals will be scrutinizing all the teams at each changeover point. And support will be provided by the Army's signals detachment and medical company from Waiouru. What started out as a challenge between two Army units has how become a major fun-run event. This year will see two teams from Waiheke Island competing, several school teams, three military teams from Australia, three military teams from the South Island and an additional 50 service teams, as well as the 150-odd additional civilian teams which have entered. To follow up the day's event a function will be held at the 4 Field Workshops in the Waiouru camp with a $20 at the door for non-partic-ipants.