Kids show how tough they are

Ben Gouldsbrough, 12, from Hastings, will be competing in the Mitre 10 Tough Kids event at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

Today Ben Gouldsbrough will be climbing walls, hurdling water, and leaping through tyres to prove his school is the toughest.

The 12-year-old will be competing against 2500 other students from 45 Hawke's Bay schools in the Mitre 10 Mega Tough Kids event.

Ben said he knew what to expect from the 26-piece obstacle course after competing last year, enjoying the hill climbs, slides, and running through water the most.

"It taught me you can't give up and you need to keep trying," Ben said.

Ben, with 89 other Hastings Intermediate students, will be competing together for their school, and against one another for spots in the school's sports academy.

Watch the video here.

Ben's father Paul was full of praise for what the Tough Kids event was teaching his son and other students.

"It gets kids to have a go essentiality at something fun and they'll probably surprise themselves sometimes at what they are able to do," he said. "It will spur them on, so they think 'I can do more than I thought I could'."

Organiser Kerry Meehan said this year was the biggest in the three years the event had been running with organisers agreeing to take an extra 500 entries.

Organisers were hoping to raise between $6000 to $8000 for Breath HB from entry fees, and food purchases at the event.

"We found asthma is quite an issue with some of the kids who come along," Ms Meehan said, "One of our main concerns was a lot of kids were finishing the race, and needed an inhaler but either didn't have it there or didn't have one at all."

Ms Meehan said 100 per cent of the money spent on food at the event would also be going to Breath HB thanks to Rapid Release, who were supplying food free of charge.

About a third of the schools would be competing for the first time this year, like the 99 from Taradale Intermediate school. It would also be the first year for up to 100 students from Mahora School.

A school representative said: "It's a different opportunity for the kids. It's another experience outside the classroom where they can challenge themselves."

Others, like Hastings Intermediate School have been competing every year since the event began, said deputy principal Shane Foster. "The variety of challenges it provides, it's fun but it's still good competition. It's always good to offer something different for the kids."