A lack of shame and some unusual underwear made for some entertaining viewing on Masterton's Queen Street yesterday lunchtime. The Undy 500 sprint through the centre of town was again an eye-popping success, all in the name of charity.
About 10 teams participated in the teams event, and about the same
number of "celebrities" ran the whole length of the course from Caf? Strada to Books N' More.
NZ First list MP Edwin Perry stood out in the celebrity race as he carried a cardboard cutout of party leader Winston Peters wearing pinstripe undies. It may have been blatant electioneering, but it was still funny. Labour candidate Denise MacKenzie and Greens candidate Claire Bleakley ran together at the rear of the pack. They'll be hoping they fare better on September 17.
The winner of the celebrity race was the person who raised the most money for the Cancer Society and that honour went to head salesman at Southey Nissan, Gary Brooks, who managed to solicit a whopping $1400 from people eager to see him semi-naked on Queen Street.
First across the line was policeman and Wairarapa-Bush rugby player, Damon Neil. He almost took out More FM "shockjock" DJ Brent Gare on the first section of the sprint. Gare was pragmatic about getting the shoulder halfway down the course.
"I was going to dial 111, but he needs the practice for the game tomorrow against Horowhenua," he said.
Winner of the teams event was J. & L. Canning and Associates, with Cafe Strada second, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council third.
The Undy 500 is an annual event run by More FM and the Cancer Society to raise money for their cause. This year they raised around $3000.
