Emphasis on fun in Mangonui

Mangonui Lion Alan McDowell (centre back) with the first placegetters in the annual Fun Run and Walk on Sunday, Emily McDowell, Memphis Waldron and Ilyas Mdouari.

A record crowd turned out for the Mangonui Lions Club's annual Fun Run and Walk on Sunday.

The event began from Mangonui School and offered two distances, 6km and 8km, and also a 2km distance for children at the finish line on Cooper's Beach.

The first runners in the main two distances were Emily McDowell winning the 8km course, while youngsters Memphis Waldron and Ilyas Mdouari came in arm-in-arm in a dead-heat finish in the 6km distance (which Ilyas won last year).

Event spokesman Alan Dow noted the runs were not timed, indicating the emphasis had remained on participation and having a good time rather than going hard out in competition.

"What was good, the numbers of people who got dressed up to have a really good time."

It was also great for all involved to have the weather come to the party, with conditions overcast and a cool breeze for the runners and walkers but the cloud cover burning off later in the morning, just in time for the prizegiving.

The prizegiving was a well attended affair with most of the participants staying around to see if their number was drawn out in one of the 70 spot prizes, several of which were worth over $100. Dow noted not too many lucky draw prizes were unclaimed (ie. because the winners had already bailed).

While the final tally had yet to be completed, he suggested it "will be closer to $2000 than $1000", with all proceeds going to the Far North Radio Sea Rescue boat.

He thanked both the participants and the local business community for its generosity in donating the prizes.