Rain discourages run participants

ORGANISERS of the Bridge to Beach run to Kaka Point blame persistent rain for dampening the enthusiasm for this year’s event.

The annual event, now in its eighth year, yesterday attracted 113 entries, which was well down on previous years, spokeswoman Nyree Dickie said.

About half of all entrants usually registered on the day, but ‘‘I think people sort of looked out the curtains and thought ‘ew yuck’, which was quite disappointing’’, she said.

‘‘It was a drizzly sort of day all the way through, and it actually got colder as the day went on.’’

Those who did brave the elements took part in a 21km or 35km bike race and halfmarathon starting in Balclutha, or an 8.5km family bike ride, run or walk starting at the Paretai Hall, all ending at Kaka Point.

The event was organised by the Kaka Point Surf Life Saving Club and Johnstone Electrical, but was held a week earlier than usual this year, to avoid a clash with Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s national championships next weekend, she said.

Results of the 2017 Bridge to Beach event. — Men 35km run: Steve Darby 1, Robert Scott 2. 8.5km run: Barry Proctor 1. 35km bike: Harmen Baas 1, Mark Watt 2, Neil Rutherford 3. 21km bike: Peter Brookland 1, Carl Schiller 2, Aaron Jury 3. 8.5km family bike: Dave O’Hara 1, Hank Geers 2, Brad Clarke 3. 8.5km recreational walk: Tony Grant 1, Chris Bunting, Peter Gilder equal 2.

Women 35km run: Hannah Oldroyd 1, Phillippa Reihana 2, Victoria van der Spell 3. 8.5km run: Julie Edmunds 1, Sarah Moore 2, April Moffat 3. 35km bike: Helen Gilder 1, Tracey Candy 2, Haria Hamelink 3. 21km bike: Louise Thompson 1, Jolene Barclay 2, Deborah Keach 3. 8.5km family bike: Carla McPhee 1, Lisa Cowie 2, Carmen Jillett 3. 8.5km recreational walk: LeahAnne

Bunting 1, Melanie Scott 2, Julie Gardner 3. High school 8.5km run: Blake Mosley 1, Kobe Thomson 2, Layton Lornie 3. 21km bike: Tate Barron 1, Morgan Greer 2, EllaRose Lawrence 3. 8.5km family bike: Ben Witt 1. 8.5km recreational walk: Maia Pryde, Kine Budd equal 1, Joanne Brian 3.

Primary school 8.5km run: Tyler Lornie 1, Adam McNab 2, Will Clarke 3. 21km bike: Ruby Anderson 1, Sydney Marshall 2, Lillie Buckingham 3. 8.5km family bike: Ryley O’Hara 1, Logan Mosley 2, Zack Smith 3.

Enduring the elements . . . Ben Witt, from Balclutha, heads for the finish line at Kaka Point while competing in the 8.5km bike ride section of yesterday’s rainsoaked Bridge to Beach event.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Leaders . . . Adam McNab (10, left), Will Clarke (9) and Tyler Lornie (10), all from South Otago, take part in the 8.5km run.