Running and cultural tour of Chatham Islands suggested

Press, 16 January 1980, Page 8

Running and cultural tour of Chatham Islands suggested

The Chatham Islands may become another of the growing number of New Zealand districts to hold an annual 26.2-mile marathon. A Christchurch veteran runner, Bruce Carr, recently proved the feasibility of the project by a coast-to-coast run to the main settlement of Waitangi across the centre of the island from the long established fishing settlement of Owenga on its eastern shores. He has twice completed this run. The Long Distance Runners’ Club of New Zealand is looking at ways to assist the islanders to stage a marathon. The club considers that the one-way journey of between 13 and 14 miles can be a basis for this.

The Chathams community is noted for its sporting enthusiasm; and Ralph Woodward a Christchurch woolbroker, recalls that Father Arbuckle used to run regularly during his term as parish priest at the island.

A former Resident Commissioner at the island, Mr Don Reid, also used to take advantage of the at-

tractive running environment along the wide curving beach of Petre Bay between Waitangi and the coastal landmark of Red Bluff some three miles awav.

Bruce Carr notes that this beautiful beach run would be part of the proposed marathon course.

Bruce, senior surveyor of ships for the Marine Division of the Ministry of Transport, has been regularly visiting the Chathams since 1968 to survey fishing vessels there. He recommends the island environment for running. “The surroundings are beautiful, the air is clean, there is no traffic pollution and the sands are peaceful for running.” A group of Canterbury distance runners have declared themselves attracted by the idea of running an inaugural Chathams Marathon.

They include Robert Chant, owner of the big Lyttelton trawler, Kingfisher a frequent visitor to the Chatham Fishing grounds; Rod Rutherford (Toe H), George Lucking of the SI. Martins club,

Don Cameron (St Martins'! and Ralph Woodward (Rover Harrier Club}. The project has nostalgic appeal for two other Canterbury runners, Bruce and Peter McGregor, both marathoners and members of the McGregor family of 14 children, for years note d residents at Owenga.

Mrs Joanne Lanauze, who with her husband, Mic. runs the general store at Waitangi, told me she believes there is an opportunity for an enterprising tour-organising firm to promote a Chatham Islands marathon.

Joanne is a fourth generation island resident and is a daughter of Mr Jack Wishart one of the Chathams’ noted, landowners and administrators. One New Zealand travel firm has already staged a. “Round Rarotonga Road Run” of 21.2 miles. I did several training runs with Rarotongan islanders while getting ready for my first “New Brighton 50” race, although I could never persuade any of them to run with me right round the island.

I have also had a number of visits to the Chathams, and I have run there and ridden over several parts of it. 1 consider the Chathams have much to offer marathoners, and cultural and sporting tourists generally. Meantime the Rangiora Businessmen’s Association plans to welcome all runners in this year’s “Rangiora 20” event with a social and refreshment, gathering at the Rangiora Football Club headquarters in Ashley Street. The runners will leave Caledonian Road at 6.15 p.m. next Wednesday evening. All runners, no matter how slow they go, are welcome. All have to be registered members of clubs affiliated to the Canterbury centre of the N.Z.A.A. and there will be post entries. The “Rangiora” should provide good training for the New' Zealand marathon championships to be held in Christchurch on March 15, which will incorporate New- Zealand’s first, veteran and women’s marathon championship.

RUNNERS’ DIARY

Bv

John Drew