New running series

Press, 20 October 1981, Page 17

New running series

Canterbury Dairy Farmers. Ltd. of Christchurch, is to sponsor a series of 10km road running races in the South Island under its Big M flavoured milk brand.

The five-race programme will be known as the “Big M 10.000 Series." .and Christchurch, Ashburton. Nelson. Invercargill. and Dunedin are the centres at

which the events will be held.

The first race will be at Dunedin on November 15, and the final in Christchurch on March 13. The Ashburton race is on January 9. Nelson on February 6. and Invercargill on December 5. The events are being used to help raise money for a local running club.

The University of Canter-

bury Cross-Country Club is organising the Christchurch event, in a switch from the Coca-Cola sponsored event it ran in March. The Nelson Harrier Club and the Ashburton Harrier Club are the organisers in their respective centres.

Prizes will be awarded to winners of different sections in both the registered and non-registered categories, and each of the race, dates avoids clashing with other running events in the respective areas. • .

Although the events are not billed as “fun runs," the non-registered runners will have the opportunity to test their fitness against the clock.

There is also a possibility that some athletes may be invited to compete in' the events, and that winning runners in the earlier events may be able to take part in the final race in Christchurch in March.