Get set for great Escape

Plans have been drawn for an Escape From Kaitoke just south of Wanganui this weekend.

The perpetrator is the Wanganui Multisport and Triathlon Club which has been planning the fun event for some years now.

Club spokeswoman Melina Holmes said the format of the inaugural event was a triathlon, although in the swim leg athletes could opt to kayak instead.

The event on Sunday starts and finishes at Pauri Lake adjacent to the Wanganui Prison at Kaitoke and would feature both short and long courses for the swim/kayak leg and the mountain bike and run disciplines through nearby Harakeke Forest.

"We have been planning to host the event for sometime, but for various reasons it hasn't happened until now," Holmes said. "We are hoping to make this a fun annual event for the entire community and not just club members. And if individuals don't want to either swim or kayak and just do the other disciplines then we can team them up with swimmers or kayakers."

In keeping with the fun nature of the event tunnelling will be frowned upon, especially in the prison leg of the journey, and one of the more high-profile contenders entering the race will be Wanganui police dog handler and talented triathete Jason Page fresh from his solid performance in the Nutri-Grain New Zealand Ironman in Taupo last month.

The short course involves a 400m swim or a 1km kayak, a 7km mountain bike ride and a 2.5km run, while the long course features a 750m swim or 14km bike ride and a 5km run.

"This a fun event open to the entire family and we have tried to keep costs right down to accommodate everyone.

"There will be a $10 charge for individuals and $10 for each team member up to a maximum of $20 a team. Students will be charged just $5 while children under 12 will pay $2. Registrations will begin at 9am at Pauri Lake on Sunday, a briefing will be held at 9.45am with racing to kick off at 10am," Holmes said.