New Ashburton half marathon gets a leg up
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
A funding boost is helping an Ashburton rugby club get a new half marathon event up and running.
The Allenton Rugby Club is holding the inaugural Ashburton River Trail half marathon event on March 2, 2024.
Event organiser Ryan Jameson said a group came up with the idea for a running event along the river trail and quickly partnered with the rugby club.
“The location, facilities, and accessibility to the track made it the perfect place.”
Entrants will run along the established track by the Ashburton/Hakatere River, starting and finishing at the club’s adjoining grounds.
There will be a 5km event on the Friday night and the 10km and 21km events on the Saturday, followed by a social function at the clubrooms.
Organisers will look to add a full marathon in the future, taking runners from the rugby club all the way to the coast and back, Jameson said.
“The aim is to make it an annual event and entice runners from all over the country to Ashburton for a weekend to compete.
“To our knowledge, it’s the only sort of running event of its type in Ashburton.
“The river track is a hidden gem and this is an opportunity to showcase that.”
Many consider it a bike trail, but it's also a great running track, he said.
Jameson said the Hakatere River Trail users group deserved a lot of credit for the state of it.
The Ashburton District Council helped organisers by directing them to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Regional Event Fund.
The river trail marathon was one of nine Mid Canterbury events to receive a grant from the fund, which was set up to kickstart local events that support cross-regional tourism recovery.
A $30,600 grant for the event would help attract visitors from outside the district.
Hemsworth Estate, an Edwardian Villa just out of Ashburton, received a $4000 grant to hold a Bridgerton Ball, for fans of the Netflix series Bridgerton.
Bridgerton Balls have been held in Auckland and Hamilton but this is the first for the South Island.
Council compliance and development group manager Jane Donaldson said there were 17 applications and the successful ones were decided by a panel including council and community representatives.
“There were some great events seeking grants, so it was a hard job.
“It was clear though, that local groups and businesses are back in the event business and that is great to see.
The Regional Event Fund aims to help events that will boost visitors to local businesses.
"These visitors stay on and shop, eat at local restaurants and explore the district," Donaldson said.
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Regional Event Fund grants:
Ashburton Rowing Club: $4000 for rowing regattas
Hemsworth Estate: $4000 to run Bridgerton Ball
Allenton Rugby Football Club: $4000 for Ashburton River Trail Marathon
Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club: $3000 for Wheat and Wheels Rally
Dynamic Gymnastics Sports: $4000 for three events
Ashburton Aviation Museum and Society: $7000 for Militaria and Aviation Extravaganza
Methven and Foothills Walking Festival: $1000
Mid Canterbury Netball: $2400 for senior tournament
Multicultural Bite: $1200 for annual event on Waitangi Day
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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72.7% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.3% Hmm, maybe?
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11% Yes!
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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90.2% Yes
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9.8% No
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