City2City has cemented its place as one of the best loved community events with more than 4300 registrations for its fourth running.
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The annual cross-Border fun run/walk on Sunday morning raised $107,000 for Albury Wodonga Health.
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Event co-founder Michelle Hudson said it was wonderful to see the Border community embrace the event, from serious 10km and 7.5km runners to those enjoying the social 7.5km walk and talk, which attracted 1446 entries.
“It really is a co-community celebration,” Ms Hudson said, “very much a grassroots community event but has all the elements you’d expect from something like the City to Surf or City to Bay.
“People who have run at those events are really blown away, they really appreciate what an engaging event it is for the community.
“We’ve really been able to maintain that community celebration but also delivering on the expectations of people wanting a professional event experience, which has just been great.”
The event started at QEII Square in Central Albury and made its way across the Lincoln Causeway to the finish line in High Street, Wodonga, passing through the redeveloped Junction Place for the first time.
“We needed to make that change because of the roadworks in High Street,” Ms Hudson said.
“Given the feedback on how well it worked it will probably become a permanent fixture in the route.
“It’s great to see the spaces in Wodonga really utilized and council was really well supportive.”
First across the 10km line was Gisborne runner Charlie Park, in 30min50sec, while Melbourne’s Camilla Whishaw (36:45) won the women’s open 10km. Michael Grohmann (40:37) and Callista Race-Stelling (41:24) won the 15 and under category. There were 1525 entries in the 10km run and 1363 in the 7.5km run/walk.
In the 7.5km open section, Callum Crowe (26:08) and Belinda Ralph (28:55) were first home with Finn Nixon (29:29) and Conatsu Kaga (34:31) claiming 15 and under honours.
Co-founder Jen Hayes said a record 899 entered the 15 years and under categories this year.
“It's great to see this number lift each year, encouraging our next generation of runners,” she said.
FIRST TIMERS
Ned, Molly and Henry Welch are used to coming along for the ride when their mum and dad are jogging but that’s about to change.
“Simone and I go for a jog most weekends and kids are normally on their bikes, now they’ll have to run because the proved they can,” Rod Welch joked after Molly, 8, and Henry, 5, joined Ned, 10, and their parents on their first City2City.
It was also a first for his mother Pat.
“Mum is in a walking club in Wodonga, they walk every week all around the place but the first time she’s done it too,” he said, “She’s done pretty well ... she makes it look easy.”
Another City2City debutante, Rachael Ross, was full of praise for the event, which featured 17 performers along the picturesque course between central Albury and central Wodonga to lift and encourage entrats.
“It was spot on, it had a really good vibe, lots of energy everyone was excited and in a great mindset,” she said after her first fun run.
“People were giving others words of encouragement, it was a happy atmosphere.”
GOOD CAUSE
Albury Wodonga Health will use this year’s money to fund life-saving chronic lung disease equipment.
Organisers said 100 per cent of the event’s registration fees would be used to buy a second Endo Bronchial Ultra Sound Scope (E-BUS).
It helps in diagnosing lung cancer, detecting infections and inflammatory diseases that affect the lungs by allowing doctors to get samples from the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes without conventional surgery.