Mud Muster open to juniors

MUD PACKS: For the first time this season juniors will be allowed entry to the annual McDonald's Mud Muster at Shelter View. PHOTO/Tracey Grant

The younger brigade will be able to get down and dirty at the fourth annual McDonald's Mud Muster at Shelter View Jetsprint Park in October.

Entries are now open for Whanganui's premier mud run, set to take place on Saturday, October 15 and this year younger mudsters get to take part too.

The popular event - which features hundreds of crazy Kiwis (locals and visitors alike), converge to make their way around a gruelling, yet thrilling obstacle course where mud and wet are central themes - is now also open to Year 7 and 8 students.

"Lots of parents and children have asked us to extend entries to include Year 7 and 8 students with some looking at the Mud Muster as the next step up from the our Tough Kid events," Sport Whanganui organiser Rachel O'Connor said.

"So this year we've gone ahead and done this, meaning even more people now get to join in the fun. We're delighted to be once again working with the Shelter View team to host the event. Shelter View is the ideal location with all the native bush, dams, streams, and lots of hills and slopes providing climbs to stunning views as well as exhilarating mud/water slides.

"And then there's the jetsprint track itself, providing for a wetter-than-ever experience, tricky obstacles, like the Spin-out Pool and the Tyre Wall of Death, and prime viewing for spectators.

"With early-bird entries only open until August 21 we're encouraging people to get their entries in now - all entrants will go into the draw to win some fantastic spot prizes on the day."

To enter or find out more, head to: www.mudmuster.co.nz or visit the Sport Whanganui office at 40 Maria Place Extension, Whanganui.

Sport Whanganui and Wanganui Bootcamp have also again teamed up to offer eight free weekly training sessions for people wanting to get into shape in the lead up to the event. The early-morning, one-hour sessions will take place at Cooks Gardens on Wednesdays from August 24.

Individual race categories of 3km, 5km and 10km and a mud mate team 5km race are available. Year 7 and 8 students may enter the 3km event only. Entries close on Sunday, October 2. No day entries are available due to the popularity of the event.