Waiouru kids run "race that never was"

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 614, 28 November 1995, Page 5

Waiouru kids run "race that never was"

A team of nearly 50 children from Waiouru Primary School had geared up to run in this year's silver jubilee Around the Mountain Relay race which, had it not been cancelled, would have been run on Saturday. When volcanic activity from Mount Ruapehu forced the cancellation of the relay, organisers of the school team, Julie Brownlie and Jo Marama with the help of Spud White and Helen Black, put all the training to use and held a mini race. Consent forms had to be signed by parents.as ash and a strong sulphur smell still made running difficult for some, and 24 returns were received. A short circuit was organised in camp and the children got a chance to earn their T-shirts which had to be paid for. The school Board of Trustees, the Parent Teacher Association and the Waiouru Warrant Officers and Sergeants mess were forthcoming in sponsorship that meant children (or parents) only had to pay $10 for this year's Around the Mountain T-shirt, a T-shirt that will perhaps become a collector' s item because it depicts an event that never happened.