Tough stuff for active kids

The Sport Wanganui and Cooks Gardens staff get creative building a different hurdle for Tough Kid 2013 challenge today at Cooks Gardens. From left, Rachel O'Connor, Stu Milham, Yannic Gerber, Max Carroll. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Around 1300 Wanganui district schoolchildren will be out to prove they are tough enough at Cooks Gardens today for the third annual Gilbertson Mitre 10 Mega Tough Kid challenge.

There are 29 schools registered for this year's edition of the Sport Wanganui event, which involves a challenging obstacle course traversing both the infield, track and hill around Cook Gardens.

There will be podium placings up for grabs for Year 3 through to Year 8 grades, as well as team trophies in races where participants must support each other to get across the finish-line together. This year's set-up will again include slippery inflatable running, tyre climbs, the Web of Deceit, the Bamboo Crawl and much more. Past favourites like the Bell Tower Travelator are back, plus there will be a couple of different obstacles revealed to provide new challenges.

Transformation of Cooks Gardens started taking place yesterday as equipment was brought in to set up the course.

Huge wooden cable reels, hay bales, crash mats and skip bins are just part of the gear being used to produce the event.

A team from sponsors Gilbertson Mitre 10 Mega were also on site building their own water obstacle, with a promise this year's will be bigger and better than before. Taking on the role of "Tail End Charlie" for each race is Sport Wanganui's Marie Kinloch. Dressed as a hot dog last year, it's anybody's guess as to what she might be wearing today. Also with a strong presence on the day is the contingent of service groups. The police, army cadets and fire service will all be on hand , plus a large number of volunteers.

No entry charge and spectators are welcome.

The d challenge starts at 10am and finishes around 2pm.