Locals claim their share on Mother's Day

RED TRAILS: A group of Far North women featured in the Go Red team to take part in the Jennian Homes Paihia Mother's Day Fun Run/Walk on Sunday.

Several local women received a lucrative prize draw at the Jennian Homes Mother's Day Fun Run/Walk event in Paihia on Sunday.

Winners of the best fancy dress prizes were Lisa Hill from Kaitaia and Gary Robinson Whangarei, with the duo capturing the attention of the judges by cleverly dressing as houses in a nod to the sponsors.

And, among the thousands of dollars' worth of spot-prizes given away, Jasmine Kitchen from Whangarei took home the popular ladies' cruiser bike, while Jody Wills from Kerikeri scored the iPad mini.

Of the event itself, the 8.7km run course ran from Paihia through to above the Waitangi Golf Course, returning through the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to the finish line in Paihia.

After early-morning showers Paihia turned on great weather for the 1200 competitors who ran or walked over one of two distances available.

Many wore the red Jennian Homes shirts in support of women's heart health in the Go Red for Women Heart Foundation promotion.

After competing in the Auckland Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Harry Linford topped off another great weekend by comfortably winning the men's section - despite suffering from shin splints - by completing the 8.7km course in an impressive 29.20s.

Tim Goodwin (Whangarei) was second home in 30.49s followed by Louis Young (Warkworth)in 32.02s; while in the women's division, Carolyn Younger (Whangarei) took the title by almost four minutes in 32.43s, followed by Katie McVerry (Whangarei) in 36.34s, and Ruth Hutchinson (Whangarei).

All Northland adults who competed also gained an entry into the draw to win the series' major prize of a Mazda 2 car, which will be drawn following the last event in the Sport Northland Run/ Walk Series, the Kerikeri Half Marathon on November 19.

-The next event in the series is the Baylys 2 Dargaville Run/Walk 6.8km or a 12km run/walk on Sunday, June 12. Entries are now open at the event website.