Editorial: Athletics events let area shine

Craig Cooper.

Part of the secret to multisport athlete Bruce Cole-Baker's success, it seems, is his home ground advantage.

Which, to be fair, would have meant nothing if Cole-Baker hadn't trained diligently to reach the level of fitness required for the inaugural Wild Kiwi event in Whangarei last Saturday.

And then planned his race, sorted his nutrition and prepared his gear properly.

The main event is a tough one, a 12km kayak, a 25km mountain bike trail, a challenging 14km off-road run and then a 3km run on the road to the finish line.

Cole-Baker shot around it in just over 4 hours, completing an off-road run section that he traverses in his job as a part-time Bream Head Conservation Trust ranger.

About 700 people turned up to compete in this first Wild Kiwi, yet there were only 57 entries in the multisport event. How so?

Well, firstly, there were teams among the 57 entries, so the number of actual competitors is higher than the number of entries. There were also several running and walking events happening on the day. Just under 300 people turned up for the 15km and 21km running events alone.

All up, the 700 who took part were there to not only test their fitness, but compete on a course that showed off the unique beauty of Whangarei Heads and Bream Head.

And the course is no walk in the park - there are hills and steps ... many of them. A little like the Fullers Great Sights Bay of Islands Beast last year, it is an event with a point of difference.

Take on the Beast and you might just finish sore, muddy and exhausted but with a giant grin on your face. Traditional road running and walking events are a great place to start, but venturing into the region's coastal and hilly terrain is where the future is at for these types of events. And Northland is perfect as a training ground and location for competitive events. The Cape Brett Challenge wasn't held this year - it's a shame but it also has a unique point of difference. Elite athletes can run it, the rest of us run, walk, climb and stagger our way around.

Hopefully the event returns, and Northland continues to grow a reputation as an off-road, multisport paradise.