Hatea Harriers' Club got the 2012 season under way with a variety of pack runs through bush trails from the Quarry Gardens on Russell Rd.
There were various distances along tracks, which catered for walkers and runners aged 7 to 70.
After Saturday's event, guest speaker Jim Kettlewell gave aninspirational talk about contesting the recent World Xterra Trail Running Championships where he won the Legends age-group title (60-69).
The world championships attracted runners from 20 countries and were held on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu over a distance of 21.9km.
Not only did Kettlewell win his age-group by more than 13 minutes, in a time of 1hr 49.50min from Canadian and American competitors, his overall placing in the field of 680 runners was a highly creditable 53rd.
The race was held on off-road trails that covered steep terrain, travelling from sea level to an altitude of 250m.
Kettlewell has been a competitive athlete for most of his life and in 1985 won the New Zealand marathon title age 40-45 in a personal best time of 2hr 29min
The following year he travelled to Australia and won the 1986 Australasian title.
