Runners setting off for an ACM cross-country race in 2018. PHOTO/FACEBOOK
ATHLETICS
CHRIS COGDALE
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For more than 20 years, Ray Wallis has been running the annual Anzac Day races on the country roads west of Carterton.
Like all other sports events, this year’s races have fallen victim to the covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Wallis said the races were originally started as a fundraiser for the now defunct Carterton Amateur Athletics Club, but have more recently been used as fundraisers for charities, currently the Life Flight Trust.
The races, which start and finish at Dalefield Hall, are for runners and walkers over 10km and 5km, with a 2km race for younger children. Some 120 people usually turn up to compete.
With the demise of Saturday’s races, Athletics and Cycling Masterton [ACM] are holding a virtual run to honour the hard work put in by Wallis over the years.
The club are encouraging people to go for a 5km or 10km run or walk and donate one dollar for every kilometre completed, with all the proceeds to go to the Life Flight Trust.
The money can be deposited into the ACM bank account 02-0688-0020447-00, using your name and Anzac as a reference.
The club also want runners and walkers to post pictures on the club’s Facebook page, but remind virtual competitors to remain in their bubbles and close to home.
The ACM’s popular cross-country series is also on hold.
The first and second races in the eight-race series were scheduled to be held earlier this month, and the third race was planned for May 3.
The series would normally culminate with the club’s cross-country championships at the end of July.
ACM president David Farlow said the whole programme is still up in the air and they would look at various options on how to get people back and running with the club when the restrictions are lifted.
