Southern View: September 30, 2021
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4 Thursday <strong>September</strong> <strong>30</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
SOUTHERN VIEW<br />
Participation a prize in itself for<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 />
in a row there were no dog –or<br />
DUOs: Paula Charmley, of Hoon Hay, and her dog Kahu get distracted before the start of<br />
the half marathon. Top right: Charmaine Le Roux, of Cashmere, and her dog Savannah.<br />
Right: Madeleine Van Dyk, of Cashmere, and her dog Charles. PHOTOS: JOHN COSGROVE<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 />
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.