THEY'RE OFF: The 9-year-old and under girls break the line during the Aranui Primary Interschool Cross Country on Tuesday. The race was won by Lillah Cornelius of Churton School.PHOTOS/ANNA WALLIS 16092015WCSUPCROSSCOUNTRY2
THEY'RE OFF: The 9-year-old and under girls break the line during the Aranui Primary Interschool Cross Country on Tuesday. The race was won by Lillah Cornelius of Churton School.PHOTOS/ANNA WALLIS 16092015WCSUPCROSSCOUNTRY2
THE 25th annual Aranui Primary Interschool Cross Country was celebrated in style with record numbers descending on the small Castlecliff school yesterday.
Principal Maryann Roberts said 35 schools from throughout the region had registered and more than 520 children were expected to compete.
"Unfortunately, some of the children had beenstruck down by that nasty bug that's been going round and we ended up catering for 471 runners, but that's still the largest field we've had," she said.
The annual event involved four age-group races for both boys and girls and this year St John's Hill School dominated once the team categories were collated, winning four of the seven team trophies up for grabs. The individual events were spread throughout the other schools competing.
"We were blessed with beautiful weather for our 25th anniversary and the support once again from parents, family and the community was outstanding," Ms Roberts said.
The Aranui Primary Interschool Cross Country began 25 years ago with just three schools taking part.
"It grew really quickly, I'm told and now it has become a huge logistical exercise for a school with a roll of just under 100, but it is a joyful exercise. You only have to look at the children's faces - they love it and look forward to it every year."
