Annual Tower Run a power of fun

Registrations open today for the popular annual J Swap Matamata Chronicle Tower Run.

The event, held this year on March 6, is a fundraiser for the Matamata Athletic Club and Matamata Harriers.

The 2015 event will see some changes to the team event categories. In previous years, there were four team categories for the 6.6 kilometre run, but due to a lack of interest in these, they will no longer be an option. The only team event is the open running team for the 6.6km distance.

Individual categories are unchanged. Trophies will be up for grabs. Matamata Chronicle manager Milly Keys said the Tower Run was a fun community event which was ‘‘all about families getting out there and active’’.

‘‘This is an event organised by individuals who have different day jobs and the reason we do it is because we’re really passionate about our local clubs and the importance of being active.’’

Keys and the organising committee encourage local clubs to wear club colours and businesses to get involved too.

While there has been a change with the team events, organisers certainly don’t want to stop people running or walking together as a group.

Putting together an event like the Tower Run takes a lot of time and effort.

‘‘Every year we get tremendous support from Lou Beer at Sport Waikato, Matamata New World who donate the water, and Tower Rd Motel, who man the water stations, Rotary and Kiwianis who marshall on the evening, along with the local police and St John and Roslyn Nancekivell, prevention co-ordinator for the Matamata Piako Family Safety Network, who supplies apples. We couldn’t do it without all of this help.’’

Last year’s change to the course start and finish, being at the same place, proved successful and will be continued this year. The course starts and finishes at the Karaka St entrance of Tom Grant Dr.

There are two distances on offer, 6.6km and 4km, and runners and walkers can only enter one category.

There will be spot entries start from $5.

Registration forms are available now from the Chronicle office at 2 Tainui St until noon race day.

The committee encourage entrants to register before noon on race day but they will be accepting late registrations for an additional fee at the start line, from 5pm.

prizes and