Thirsty work but Kiwi not here for the beer

A veteran international athlete who held one of the most unusual records in New Zealand sport is expected to be among the leading runners in the Baxters River Ness 10km on Sunday.

Dwight Grieve, a 41 year-old policeman from Te Anau in South Island, has made his way to the Highlands via Andorra where he represented his country in last weekend’s world mountain running championships.

Grieve is well known in his homeland for setting three of the fastest times recorded for the beer mile, with a best effort of 5min 52sec.

This race requires competitors to drink a can or bottle of beer every 400 metres during the 1,600m run. Grieve will not be expected to engage in that sort of refuelling strategy in Inverness.

He is, however, looking forward to the occasion, saying: “I lost the beer record by four seconds recently but I plan taking it back in November.

“My wife and I are heading to Inverness because my family originated in Scotland before relocating to New Zealand a very long time ago. We also were told it was a stunning place with nice people.

“As I am fit at the moment a 10km at a fun-looking event was to hard to turn down. I am running well and as long as I recover from the mountain championships, I plan on running under 33 minutes.”

Grieve, who took up running at the age of 30, has assembled an impressive list of achievements. He has won national age-group titles in 10km road running and mountain racing as well as Oceania track titles.

He won silver in the New Zealand 24-hours running championships.