Iconic event all go

SMOOTH WATERS: 3Bridges Marathon convenors Allan Carter (left), Pat Carter and Diane Hay have cleared most of the hurdles they need to run the 11th annual event.

THE Wanganui Harriers Club now has clear running to promote its 11th annual 3Bridges Marathon in December after the June flood put the event in doubt.

The course takes in the Aramoho Rail Bridge, the Dublin St Bridge and Cobham Bridge on a track that takes in both sides of the Whanganui River.

However, major damage to Kowhai Park, a several hundred metre section of the walkway on Anzac Pde near the Red Lion, and a smaller section behind Steam Rail Wanganui, put the annual event in serious doubt.

Club members Diane Hay and Allan and Pat Carter are driving forces behind the event and they have been forced to jump through a series of hoops to ensure the event continued.

Damage to the walkway forced the trio to make application to the New Zealand Transport Authority that controls Anzac Pde because it is part of SH4. They were also forced to deal with the Wanganui District Council as overseers of Kowhai Park and Loaders, contractors for much of the clean-up work following the flood.

"There was one point, probably in July, that we thought maybe the event could not be held because of the damage," All Carter said.

"But once we set our minds to hosting it somewhere, somehow it all began to come together. The council, NZTA and Loaders in particular all bent over backwards to help make it happen. There was not much extra organisational costs added because of flood, but there was a lot more time invested in meeting all the criteria needed to run the event."

"We would normally begin marketing and promoting the event in June or July, especially to overseas competitors to allow them to make travel plans," Hay said.

"We took a bit of a gamble to say it was still on at that stage, although we were prepared to refund people if if couldn't go ahead."

Property Brokers is the major sponsor, although many other Wanganui business houses also contribute considerable support.

The event on December 12 caters for all levels of fitness and athleticism with a full marathon, a three-quarter marathon, and 10km and 5km options for both runners and walkers.