With heavy rain falling the night before the event, the swamps and mud pits created the fun many of the competitors were looking for. The bag pipes echoed through the valley while a couple of ‘Beasts’ jumped out on course to add to the fun of the event. After crossing the line it was time for the Paihia Fire Brigade to hose down the competitors before the complimentary hangi was served.

However there is always the competitive side for some to consider and it was last year’s winners who triumphed again. In the men’s division the top three placegetters all featured again, and in the same order with Chris Mills from Whangarei taking the title in 38.36, Dargaville’s Richie Crawshaw second in 39.57 and Ben Dyer from Whangarei in 41.38 in third place.

Last year’s women’s winner Ruth Hutchinson from Whangarei conquered the course in 47.26 and finished a creditable sixth overall. Second was Adelle Allbon in 49.48 from Whangarei with Kerikeri’s Corinne Smith in third place in 52.13

While the elites covered the distance in under 40 minutes, others were in no hurry to finish with the last ones crossing the line in 3 hours 15 minutes.

The Fullers GreatSights Bay of Island’s Beast prizegiving was the official start to the Paihia Business Association’s Street Party which followed the event. Sport Northland’s Business Development Manager Colleen Atchison said there was a great turnout for both the prizegiving and the street party.

“The crowd suddenly swelled for the 4pm prize giving where there were some excellent prizes for some very happy competitors”.

Laena Hamilton of Whangarei took home the Merida Big Seven Mountain bike from Mybike Whangarei, while Kerikeri’s Georgette Cookson was the winner of a set of GT Radial Tyres from Real Deal Tyres in Whangarei. Other great prizes including Fullers GreatSights  cruises and trips, Thermatech gear and an iPad mini from NorthCloud.

Full results can be found ... Click here