This race report was sent to us by Kay Stowell:
The annual Great Barrier Island Wharf to Wharf Marathon was held on Saturday the 12th of October with over 200 registered competitors. This unique half track, half road marathon drew people from Britain, France, America and Australia and from around New Zealand.
Unlike other marathons, the first half of the course is on track and the second half on road. Participants can choose to run, walk or mountain bike. The GBI Wharf to Wharf Marathon provides a full 42.2km course as well as a half-marathon course either on track or road. And it is completely organised and staffed on the day by local volunteers.
The course offers an experience of some of the most unspoiled native forest left in NZ with impressive panoramic views, remote white, sandy beaches and picturesque settlements around quiet island bays.
Entered in this year’s event was Winter Vinecki a veteran marathoner at just 14 years old, from Oregon in the United States. Winter is on a mission to complete a marathon on seven continents before she turns 15. She has now run marathons in North America, Africa, Antarctica, South America and Oceania.
Winter runs to raise money for prostate cancer research and awareness after losing her father to an aggressive form of this cancer when she was 9 and has raised over $400,000 towards this. She chose GBI Wharf 2 Wharf Marathon on the Oceania Continent for several reasons. The GBI Wharf 2 Wharf is a memorial marathon to Barry Mouat, a father of two girls, who was instrumental in the original Wharf 2 Wharf event and who died of cancer in 2009. The GBI Wharf 2 Wharf is a fundraiser for Kaitoke School which Barry’s daughters attended.
This year’s event was very successful and each year it continues to grow. Comments from the competitors;
“awesome event, loved meeting the locals at the prize giving”; “the main point of difference of the GBI Wharf 2 Wharf is the tough mountainous course and the scenic views”; “I loved the fact that the prize giving was so well attended by both competitors and locals, very rare in the event world…. People at the aid stations were great and I loved being greeted by name at the first checkpoint by the policeman”; Lovely weekend. I did enjoy the non-commercial aspect of the event, everyone was very friendly and relaxed”; Excellent event, great community, look forward to next year”; “ I had a great weekend and Great Barrier Island is a beautiful place with a real sense of community. Everyone we dealt with over the weekend was friendly, helpful, and down to earth”; “Totally cool event, perfect balance of organised and ‘Barrier’ ”.We are very grateful to all our sponsors with special thanks to Sealink, our major sponsor. Also both Sealink and Great Barrier Airlines for offering special fares for all competitors. This support is very much appreciated.
Race Photos
Winter Vinecki @ Great Barrier Island Wharf to Wharf Marathon
Race Results
Click here to download the results of the 2013 Great Barrier Island Wharf to Wharf Marathon, NZ
Race Listing
Click here for more information about the 2013 Great Barrier Island Wharf to Wharf Marathon, NZ
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