When Donna Warwick saw the heavy rain falling on Sunday morning she wondered what impact that might have on her beloved Waipā Fun Run.
A record 691 competitors entered the event, now into its 14th year, and the timekeeper clocked 558 finishers.
The 2km Year 5 and 6 races gets underway in the Waipā Fun Run. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
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The St Peter’s Catholic School office manager was there at the start in 2012 – when it was established to align with its “healthy mind, healthy body philosophy – and continues to be at the heart of operations today as co-ordinator.
195 – Luka Thompson (Cambridge Primary) wins the Male Year 3 & 4. Waipā Fun Run.
The year 2014 – when a cyclone hit – and 2022, during the dregs of a pandemic – are the only two to have seen cancellations. So a little bit of rain – making conditions ideal for runners – was not going to deter Warwick and the organising team.
“I’m sure if the weather had played ball, we would have been well over 700,” she said. In fact, some competitors registered on the day as the rain bucketed down.
Charity partner Cambridge Lifeskills, which provides counselling, support and encouragement to young children, received $691 – $1 from each competitor’s entry fee.
“Massive thank you to all those who turned up with smiles on their faces and made the most of the adverse conditions,” said Warwick.
491 Steve Spalding (Cambridge) and 492 Jenny Brady (Morrinsville). Waipā Fun Run.
Competitors came from Papamoa, Hamilton, Ōhaupō, Matamata, Ngāruawāhia, Morrinsville, Gisborne, Waiterimu, Taupiri, Matangi, Te Awamutu,Tamahere, Whatawhata, North Shore, Tokoroa, Puketotara, Tirau, Karamu, Raglan, Motumaho, Otewa, Pukeatua, Kihikihi, Roto-o-Rangi, Eureka, Mangateparu and Maine (USA).
Cambridge’s Lane Madsen and Jake Wilkinson were first and second in the men’s 10km run and walk with Seth Herbert in third. Hamilton’s Yasmin Campbell comfortably won the women’s 10kms from Cambridge runners, former Australian Commonwealth Games middle distance competitor Lauren Shelley and Gemma O’Neill.
Local Joshua Madsen won the 5km run and walk from Ōtorohanga Orchard Valley Glamping’s Rico Dorssers with Vaughn Madsen of Cambridge in third.
Hamilton’s Rowan Torckler won the women’s event comfortably from Melissa O’Brien of Ōtorohanga in second and local Brooke Devaney in third.
The Year 5 and 6 race gets underway in the Waipa Fun Run. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
School results:
2km year 7 and 8, boys: Colin Johnston, Arthur Tilgham (both Cambridge Middle), Joshua Barclay (St Peter’s); girls: Emily Vowels (St Joseph’s, Morrinsville), Elena Quinn (Hautapu), Abigail Pike (St Peter’s Catholic).
2km year 5 and 6, boys: Jack Jordan (Marian, Hamilton), Jack Lockwood (Cambridge Primary), Benjamin Brown (Cambridge East); girls: Isla Lee (Leamington), Brinley Brough (Cambridge Primary), Charlotte Ball (Leamington).
2km year 3 and 4, boys: Luka Thompson (Cambridge Primary), Flynn Jones (Hautapu), Karsen Smith (St Joseph’s, Morrinsville); girls: Charli Greenhalgh (Leamington), Kana Coley (Cambridge East), Seren Thomas (Woodstock).
Waipa Fun Run Year 5 and 6 race gets underway. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Team results:
10km run and walk: More-re (Brad Tong, Alex Davies, Peter Tong, Sharon Robertson), Camex Civil (Stephan Brink, Liberty Deisher, Josaia Tamani, Paula Karepa).
5km run and walk: Camex Civil (Stuart Edwards, Ashleigh Watkins, Tyna Ashby, Jack Huisman), Fire Security Services (Jane Seto, Kahleigh Pita, Rhonda Olsen, Matt Karatau).
Corporate 5km run and walk: Orchard Valley Glamping Ōtorohanga (Rico Dorssers, Melissa O’Brien, Te Taki Ruarau), The Fast and Furriest (Patrick Taylor, Brooke Devaney, Bill Hancock), Monacurragh Lodge (Deagon Everton, Lauren Brennan, Brylie Everton)
2km School Year 7 and 8: Cambridge Middle (Colin Johnston, Arthur Tilghman, Abel Bartz, Theo Leef), St Joseph’s Morrinsville (Ryan Mourits, Emily Vowels, Tyler Nickalls, Cameron Devaney), Hautapu (Quinn McGovern, Elena Quinn, Danae Bax, Maia Beveridge).
2km School Year 5 and 6: Cambridge East (Benjamin Brown, Sam Wood, Mikko Peden-Cullinane, Isaac Downey), Cambridge Primary (Jack Lockwood, Brinley Brough, Mia Balzer, Lansley Davies-Colley), Goodwood (Mason Hawkins, Fletcher Webb, Bath Iremonger, Olive O’Connell).
2km School Year 3 and 4: St Peter’s Catholic (Austin Miers, Paul Czyz, Toby Broadley, Hugo Broadley), Cambridge Primary (Luka Thompson, Lewis Lockwood, Sienna Vettise, Dylan Wadsley), Goodwood (Nikau Jacobs, James Nancekivell, Caleb Rosenberg, Hannah Bradford).
The rain buckets down during the Waipa Fun Run prizegiving. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Running dry
Puketotara’s Tara Ormsby, left, and Larissa Richards of Te Awamutu finish the Waipā Fun Run 10km event in Cambridge on Sunday having spent the race under an umbrella and catching up with each other’s news. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
A good sized contingent entered the Waipa Fun Run from the western side of the district. Ryan McGowan of Ōhaupō was 12th in the men’s 10km run while Jo Morton of Te Awamutu was seventh in the women’s race.
Ōtorohanga also sent a team from Orchard Valley Glamping. Members Rico Dorssers, Melissa O’Brien and Te Taki Ruarau took out the corporate title.
St Peter’s Catholic School principal Anita Asumadu, left, and office manager Donna Warwick, right, react as MC Camille Guzzwell announces their school won the 2km Year 3 and 4 school prize in the Waipā Fun Run. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
St Peter’s Catholic office manager Donna Warwick, right, and MC Camille Guzzwell
174 Noah Sako (Marian School) Male Year 3 & 4. Waipā Fun Run.
221 Billy McIntyre (Cambridge East) Male Year 3 & 4. Waipā Fun Run.
181 Karsen Smith St Joseph’s Morrinsville (Year 3 & 4). Waipā Fun Run.
Flynn Jones of Hautapu School scoots past Keira Flockhart of Cambridge Primary School in the Waipa Fun Run
093 Breah Hunter (St Joseph’s Morrinsville) year 5 & 6. Waipā Fun Run.
193 Tristen Storey (Cambridge Middle School) and 163 Elena Quinn (Hautapu), Year 7 & 8. Waipā Fun Run.
Colin Johnston (Cambridge Middle School), 1st Male Year 7 & 8. Waipā Fun Run.
St Peter’s Catholic office manager Donna Warwick, right, and MC Camille Guzzwell
Steve Spalding (Cambridge)
St Peter’s Catholic School principal Anita Asumadu on the microphone with Donna Warwick, centre, and MC Camille Guzzwell.
Colin Johnston of Cambridge MIddle School win the 2km Year 7-8 race in the Waipa Fun Run
From left: Asahi Yamamoto (Cambridge Primary), Nicolas Kury, Aiden, Gus Eisenbarth (St Peter’s Catholic). Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Kana Coley (Cambridge East) is second in the Year 3 and 4 race. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Paul Czyz of St Peter’s Catholic. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
