Central Hawke’s Bay’s Flemington School to host Mud Run event finale in November

A competitor on the mudslide at the Flemington Mud Run in 2023. Photo / Connull Lang

After more than a decade of mud, laughter and community spirit, the Flemington Mud Run is preparing for its final lap.

For 12 years, the annual fundraiser for Flemington School in Central Hawke’s Bay was a standout event on the local calendar.

It attracted students, families, community members and people from across the country for slippery slopes and muddy crawls, with courses of 2.5km, 5km and 10km testing participants’ endurance.

Organisers say this year’s event on November 22 will mark the end of an era with a “grand finale” designed to honour the fundraiser’s legacy.

Eager runners took to the muddy course in costume in 2025.

Flemington School fundraising committee chairwoman Abby Taylor said they hoped the spirit of the event would continue long into the future.

“Who knows, someone else might take it on in the future, but for now, we are taking a break.”

She said money raised from the event has supported Flemington Schools’ resources and educational needs.

Last year, Taylor attributed the long-lasting success of the event to the fact that it was “grass roots Kiwi fun” that could be enjoyed by all ages.

“There is a lot of people out there that like getting muddy - it’s the inclusiveness and something people can do as a family or a group ... you kind of revert back to childhood and play in the muddy puddles.”

Andy and Hayley Barrett, owners of the Lake Station where the event is held, said it was time to let fresh ideas into the mix.

A cold wet shock for these competitors in 2023. Photo / Connull Lang

“We started this with a bunch of mates having a beer one day, this idea ... and thought it would be a bit of fun for a fundraiser,” Barrett said.

He said it grew from 150 participants to over 700 in recent years.

“The credit has to go to all those people who have turned up over the years ... It’s not that PC out there.

Thick mud trapped this competitor last year.

“You have just got a licence to play up, really.”

He hoped this year’s event would go out on a high note, with lots of participants.

“There is a bit of chat; it might continue on another farm somewhere.

“We have got the event as our name, there is no reason why it can’t continue, whether or not that happens, it’s up to the parents of the school.”

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.