29.09.2021 Views

Nor'West News: September 30, 2021

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

4 Thursday <strong>September</strong> <strong>30</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />

Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />

NOR’WEST NEWS<br />

Participation a prize in itself<br />

• By John Cosgrove<br />

MAN AND beast were running<br />

together at the third annual 4Paws<br />

Marathon series held on Sunday<br />

at Bottle Lake Forest Park.<br />

Observing Covid level 2<br />

spacing rules, competitors<br />

and their dogs from all over<br />

the South Island lined up for<br />

the start of events, including<br />

a marathon, a half marathon,<br />

16km, 10km and 5km runs, and<br />

a 2.4km rascals walk/run.<br />

They ran along tracks through<br />

Bottle Lake Forest Park and<br />

along nearby beaches – with<br />

some going almost as far as the<br />

Brighton Pier.<br />

The day also hosted two<br />

virtual races.<br />

Organisers started lines of<br />

competitors at ten-second<br />

intervals. They also conducted<br />

mandatory vet checks along the<br />

way.<br />

4Paws event organiser and race<br />

director John Molloy said it was<br />

a massive but fulfilling day.<br />

“In all we were very impressed<br />

with how people respected<br />

the event’s Covid rules with<br />

responsible mask usage in what<br />

is a very social event (about 100<br />

participants).”<br />

He said dogs bring out the best<br />

in people, and for the third year<br />

READY TO GO: The Downes family, of St Albans, from left: Summer,<br />

Beauden, 6, Nick, and Brooklyn, 8, with their dog Chloe before the start of<br />

the 4Paws marathon 2.4km walk/run.<br />

in a row there were no dog –or<br />

human – altercations.<br />

“The smiles on everyones<br />

faces . . . inspires us to keep<br />

hosting this event. [It] is about<br />

participation and not winning<br />

so the winners get no winning<br />

prizes as such.<br />

“But in due time they will<br />

realise they have won the<br />

best prize of all – sharing<br />

the experience of finishing a<br />

marathon together with their<br />

best friend,” Molloy said.<br />

When it came to the multiple<br />

races, he was unaware of any<br />

event in the world that offered<br />

this experience.<br />

It was good to see both human<br />

and dog winners were from<br />

Christchurch, Molloy said.<br />

DUO: Jordan Humphries, of Burnside,<br />

with Gatsby. PHOTOS: JOHN COSGROVE<br />

Darryl Cotton and Pip, a<br />

kelpie, of Rangiora won the<br />

men’s marathon in 3hr 46min<br />

31sec, while Holly Weston and<br />

her sheep dog Billy Knowler of<br />

Beckenham won the women’s in<br />

3hr 55min 41sec.<br />

Nikila was a fantastic<br />

agent who I felt went<br />

above and beyond. She<br />

was very supportive<br />

and helpful throughout<br />

the campaign, kept us<br />

updated, and checked in<br />

regularly to see how we<br />

were doing.<br />

The Nor’West <strong>News</strong><br />

is now on Facebook!<br />

We achieved a great result<br />

on auction day. I honestly<br />

can’t recommend Nikila<br />

highly enough!!<br />

- Lisa -<br />

P 03 352 0352<br />

M 027 517 5645<br />

nikila.creagh@harcourts.co.nz<br />

LICENSED SALES CONSULTANT REAA 2008<br />

Call me to discuss<br />

how my 17+ years of<br />

industry experience<br />

can assist with<br />

getting YOU great<br />

results!<br />

Harcourts gold Redwood<br />

280 Main North Road<br />

www.harcourtsgold.co.nz<br />

Like us on Facebook to access<br />

the local news that matters to your<br />

neighbourhood online, anytime!<br />

Search Facebook for “Nor’West <strong>News</strong>”

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!