David Brown and Ash Mullaly won the men’s and women’s 10km races respectively at the Goodman Highbrook Fun Run last Wednesday.
The Goodman Highbrook Fun Run is an annual event that takes place in the picturesque Highbrook / Pukekiwiriki Park in Highbrook.
It was first held in 2014, and this year marked the 10th running of the event. The event is run by Pukekiwiriki Park, with the major sponsor being Goodman Property Trust.
There are three different events that take place during the day – a 5km walk, a 5km run and a 10km run. In addition, there is a special event of 1km for the Healthy Hearts programme, which comes under Middlemore Hospital.
The event is open to people of all ages and abilities, and it is a great opportunity for people to get together and have fun while raising money for a good cause.
The primary charity for the fund-raising efforts is the Middlemore Foundation and the event also donates to Totara Hospice and other charities. Over the past 10 years, the event has raised around $200,000 which has gone to various causes. This year, the event was raising funds for resuscitation trolleys for Kidz First Hospital.
The event had a total of 378 entrants, mainly from local businesses who put in work teams. It takes place after work and is a great opportunity for businesses to get their employees together and have some fun. Sausages, drinks and ice cream were all donated by local businesses for the entrants, adding to the festive atmosphere of the event.
The 10km run was won by David Brown, who completed the race in a very respectable time of 38 minutes. He only just beat Ash Mullaly, the first woman who finished the race in 40 minutes.
In the 5km run, Charlotte Nankvell was the first woman to cross the finish line, completing the race in 22 minutes. Nicholas Sudmann was the first man to finish the race, completing it in 19.37 minutes.
In addition to the individual events, there were also team events for both the 5km and 10km races. The 10km team event was won by Mushashi, while the 5km team event saw ANZ come out on top.
“Overall, the Goodman Highbrook Fun Run is a fantastic event that brings people together to have fun while raising money for a good cause,” a Highbrook Rotary spokesperson said.
“It is a great opportunity for businesses to get their employees together and have some fun outside of work. With the event growing in popularity each year, it is sure to continue to be a highlight of the local community calendar for years to come.”
