A fine day with light winds is forecast tomorrow for the field of more than 210 runners taking on the Great Kauri Run, which finishes in Coromandel Town and has drawn some record numbers.

The charitable event is unique in that it restores Coromandel’s depleted kauri forests by providing a kauri seedling for each competitor that enters.

There are numerous distances to choose from including a gruelling 70km ultra run that’s billed as the toughest trail run held on the Coromandel, as well as a competitive 32km race, a half-marathon 23km, a 12km kauri loop trail and a fun run of 5km.

To date 210 men, women and youngsters have entered and more are expected tomorrow when entries for the 5km fun run are still being taken.

“It’s looking like it’s going to be great conditions, which is excellent news for the ultra runners particularly,” says co-organiser Andy Reid.

“We’ve had a really good turnout of 38 in the ultra-runners field, which is the biggest we’ve had ever. They’re a bit of a different breed – you have to be, it’s a tough race.”

The ultra runners start at 5.30am in Port Jackson in the picturesque and wild northern Coromandel coastline and traverse around the northern coastal track to Port Charles and Waikawau. Here they will join up with the 32km course entrants, who begin their race along the beach at Waikawau, running on sand for the first 2km.

The half marathon runners start at 10am from Whitestar Station, a 1,260 hectare sheep and cattle farm 30 minutes’ drive north of Coromandel Town. It is operated by the extended family of Zane and Ngaire and has been run by the Evans family since 1864.

All divisions will join up 14km from the finish line at a junction on the ridgeline north of Coromandel Town. It’s a point in the course that is probably the ruggest and most technical section, taking competitors to the highest point that they will need to climb to.

“It’s 580m above sea level and directly above Coromandel Town,” explains Andy. “It’s known as the success track, and we cleared especially for the Great Kauri Run.”

Andy and co-organisers Keith and Rita Stephenson are trustees of the Spirit of Coromandel Trust, which hosts this and other events throughout the year to raise money for a youth outdoor pursuits centre on the Coromandel.

The Great Kauri Run is held each year in May, while the ARC Adventure Race is hosted at a different location on the Coromandel every February, and the popular Flight Centre K2 Cycle Race circumnavigates the Peninsula each October.

Keith Stephenson is a Trustee of the Coromandel Kauri Dieback Forum which works to raise awareness of the threat to kauri from dieback disease, caused by people and animals bringing infected soil into the forest.

Our vision is to plant 10,000 trees over the next ten years and to create an avenue of Kauri all the way from Waikawau to Coromandel,” says Keith. “To date more than 3000 kauri have been planted.”

As for the kauri trees that are given to each competitor upon entry to the event, these are planted in June alongside the success track by the Spirit of Coromandel Trust and their volunteer team as well as any competitors who like to join.

The event organisers are seeking sponsors – and anyone interested in the opportunity can email Keith Stephenson or Andy Reid at arceventsrita@gmail.com.

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