TESTING DIP: Sport Whanganui chief executive Danny Jonas tests part of the Mud Muster course, watched by Shelter View landowner Julia Murray.PHOTO/RACHEL O'CONNOR, SPORT WHANGANUI MUD-MUSTER
TESTING DIP: Sport Whanganui chief executive Danny Jonas tests part of the Mud Muster course, watched by Shelter View landowner Julia Murray.PHOTO/RACHEL O'CONNOR, SPORT WHANGANUI MUD-MUSTER
It is normally the domain of 1800hp jet sprint boats, but Shelter View Jetsprint Park will soon show us the strength inside the human engine as entries have opened for the 2015 edition of the McDonald's Mud Muster.
Sport Whanganui's third annual "mud run" will be held for the firsttime at the Upokongaro farm, owned by Richard and Julia Murray, on October 17, after the two previous years on the course at the Rangitikei Farmstay near Marton.
Farmstay owners Andrew and Kylie Stewart are still hosting an adventure course mud run this year - called "The Mudder" - on September 19.
However, Sport Whanganui said their new venue for the Mud Muster would keep the action fresh with "new challenges, new scenery, new obstacles and a revamped course.
"High-powered jet sprint boats will be replaced with over 600 pairs of legs."
Competitors can enter the 3km, 5km or 10km courses as an individual.
If that proves a little daunting for first-timers, there is also the "Mud Mate Teams" challenge option available, a new addition for 2015.
Teams of four, of which at least two must be females, will make their way around the 5km route, clearing obstacles and helping each other to navigate. "The Sport Whanganui team are hoping to attract a number of workplace teams to take up this option and are challenging groups to consider the event, and the build-up to it, as an opportunity for workplace team building," said the press release.
For all those taking part, the courses will start with a lengthy climb to reach the highest point on the farm, before coming back down through the native bush, muddy yard, dams, streams, pine trees and over 20m worth of water slides.
"The final challenge will be the jet sprint track itself and a prime viewing spot for spectators ..."
Sport Whanganui will also partner with the Wanganui Bootcamp group to run a series of early morning group training sessions at Cooks Gardens, free of charge, for seven weeks in September.
-The Mud Muster is open to adults, and students from Year 9 and over. Entry prices and event information can be found at www.mudmuster.co.nz
