Kauri Runners

Michael Jacques / 07.02.2011

So often we head for the hills without much thought, other than for aching muscles and sweating bodies. But in the Coromandel two innovative event organisers have decided to spare a thought for the environment we run through.

Once upon a time the Coromandel Peninsula was a giant Kauri Grove. Today only pockets of the big trees remain. Last weekend, however, almost 200 people took part in an innovative mountain running event that has been established to help regenerate the giant guardians of the forest.

Runners from all ends of New Zealand turned out for the annual Great Cranleigh Kauri Run, a 25km mountain run traversing the Coromandel Peninsula.

Starting at Waikawau Bay on the rugged Pacific Coast, the rugged run traverses the Coromandel ranges to finish at Coromandel township on the Hauraki Gulf. The 25km route travels through native bush, streams and over 800 vertical metres of climbing. One day it will pass through Kauri groves created by the people who enter this unique event, because for every participant the organisers plant a new Kauri seedling on the course.

Entrants this year were greeted by almost perfect running conditions, with a low cloud cover over the ranges keeping the sun at bay as the field headed off along Waikawau Bay. But while conditions were perfect for everyone, one runner proved far too good for anyone.

In recent years Bay of Plenty runner Sjors Corporaal has been making a name for himself as the best mountain runner on the domestic scene. The tougher the course the better the Galatea farmer goes, and at the Great Cranleigh Kauri Run he simply went better than anyone else.

Through the first check point of the race, after the climb to Waikawau Lookout, the defending champion had Christchurch runner Vajin Armstrong for company, with Corporaal making sure he was a comfortable six seconds clear as they went through the King of the Mountain.

Behind the leaders Kelvin Meade (Tauranga), Asankita Bell (Akld) and Jason Cameron (National Pk) trailed by three minutes, but the race was taking place at the front with Corporaal opening up on the rough sections across the top of the course to establish an unassailable lead.

At the Coromandel Townhip finish line the defending champion was 10min clear of Armstrong with a time on 2hrs 31min 46secs. Behind them Auckland Gene Beverage surprised more experienced runners to come from sixth place at the Lookout to claim third in 3hrs 03min 10secs.

As impressive as Sjors Corporaal was, however, the women’s race proved even more one sided when Whitianga’s Rosie Muir led from start to finish to finish in sixth place overall. She won the women’s race 11min ahead of Auckland’s Leah Hirshfeld in 3hrs 11min 40secs, with third placed Rosana Bale another 12min back in third.

Organisers Andy Reid and Keith Stephenson were pleased with yet another successful event. The idea for a Coromandel mountain run came several years ago when Reid returned from the Kepler Challenge wondering why there were no similarly inspiring trail runs in their own spectacular region. But their Kauri concept is quite unique and too date has seen more than 1500 new Kauri trees planted on the Coromandel Peninsula.

This innovative approach to event organising has made this Adventure Racing Coromandel crew one the most popular event organisers in the upper North Island. The Kauri Run joins other popular ARC events such as the K2 road cycling classic, the ARC Adventure Race and the Moehau multisport event.