Martinborough Lions Skyline Challenge and Family Day

“A brilliant event!”  That’s how just one of the over 300 participants described this annual mountain biking, walking and running event. 

This year’s event was held in the middle weekend of the school holidays as part of ANZAC weekend on 24 April.

“This is our biggest ever event,” says Lee Quayle of the Lions Event Team.  “It continues the trend from previous years of having an increasing number of participants each year.”

Well over 300 participants turned out on a fabulous, sun-drenched Autumn day. Whether runners, cyclists or walkers, everyone seemed to revel in the friendly atmosphere and stunning hilltop views across the four 8km to 32km courses.  There was also a fun 3km course for youngsters under 8 years old.

Fun on the course and relaxing afterwards with food and music are not the only purpose.  This year the funds raised will go to the Wharekaka Aged Care Community in Martinborough.

The Skyline Challenge & Family Day is a community event organised by Martinborough Lions with the help of many people across the community. It is only possible because of the generosity of the land owners who allow the courses to be laid across their (working!) farms. Special thanks must therefore go to Charlie Cresswell and Toby Rowland of Huangarua Farm, James Bruce of Martinborough Station and Mason Topp and John Gibb of Oystershell Farm.

Many people gave their time, energy and equipment freely for this charity event. These include:-

• Dave Anderson of Fagan Motorcycles for providing bikes to access the remoter parts
• David Bray for providing radio communications over areas with no cellular coverage
• Martinborough motorcycle club – Simon Beveridge, Jim Clark and Brian Bosch
• Shane Cater for providing the PA & music system
• Craig and Rachael Colton for providing a trailer
• Dave Shepperd of Te Kairanga Vineyard provided and erected the marquee
• Mark McManaway of Allflex for donating sheep-tags for tracking
• Trust House for funding Wellington Free Ambulance
• of Allflex for donating tags for tracking
• Martinborough Lions volunteers who acted as marshals, cooked food, laid courses…and much more
• Many others too numerous to mention.

Thank you everyone!