Bunnies make it good, clean fun in big relay

You weren't mistaken, Hugh Hefner and a bunch of Playboy bunnies were in town for the HI-TEC Rotorua Ekiden Relay at the weekend.

Well, not the real ones but six girls dressed in Playboy outfits and bunny ears and six guys with matching robes who entered the relay to win best costume award after coming second last year. They won and for their efforts this year, walked away with Agroventure vouchers.

Team manager Jane Trask, said the team waltzed in second in the best costume section last year as dolls from the Doll House and had aimed to take out the top slot this year.

"It was just awesome," she said. "We aren't really a fit lot but loved the chance to dress up. It was a lot of fun."

The team received a few comments as they made their way around Lake Rotorua in the marathon-length relay.

"We had a few funny calls to come into the mansions from people on the road," Ms Trask said. "It was just a bit of fun."

Luckily it was a bit of fun because they didn't have much chance of winning the race, clocking up a time of four hours and 43 minutes.

"We aren't that flash at running but we had heaps of fun," she said.

More than 1300 people and 223 teams took part in the annual event which started nine years ago. It is run over the marathon distance of 42.2km with teams of six taking part, wearing a traditional Japanese tasuki sash instead of carrying a baton.

Wanganui Collegiate were first across the finish line in a time of two hours 44 minutes.

Event director Phil Clode said that once again the event was a huge success.

"It's really holding its own," he said.

"Generally, I think people had a really good time and seemed to be enjoying it."

The second relay changeover station in Wikiraka St, Ngongotaha, was moved by accident, making the second leg about 100m longer. But Mr Clode said the misplacing of the changeover station turned out better and safer for the competitors.

"It worked a lot better. It's always hard when there are a lot of cars and a lot of people in one place at once," he said. "We think it worked better so will make it a permanent change."