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GREAT FOREST EVENTS WAITARERE
This Event is now run by an Incorporated Society - Great Forest Events Incorporated and Events on the day include a Marathon Run and Walk, a Half Marathon Run and Walk, and fun run/walks of 10Km and 5Km.
Members of the Great Forest Events Inc Management Committee for 2009/2010 are:
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Kevin Chapman
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Chairperson
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David Frew
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Secretary
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Ross Kerr
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Treasurer
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Kevin McCashin
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Course manager – assisted by Kevin Clarke
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Cushla McColl
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Marketing Manage
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Marlene Bonner
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Volunteer/Safety Managers
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| Kathy McMillan |
Sport Horowhenua |
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Russell Higham |
IT Support
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The Great Forest Event has been a very popular sporting event in the Horowhenua and 2010 will be the 14th consecutive year it has taken place.
In 2009 there were over 2000 entrants, with an estimated 4000 people attending the venue on the day. In order to ensure the success and safety of the Events a total of 130 local volunteers were involved to cover the services required on the day.
The marathon, half marathon, 10km and 5km events have been successful in attracting many of New Zealand’s elite sports people to Waitarere. As well as this many competitors from other countries have taken part. These events encourage the competitive as well as attracting the strictly recreational runners/walkers. Family groups and schools participating increase each year, particularly in the 10km and 5km events.
Entries from local schools are actively encouraged and health professionals and sporting clubs are supportive of the events which are seen as stimulating and motivating healthy living within the community. The Events also give the local community the opportunity to be part of – or view the events.
The local community has an expectation that the event will be ongoing, that they will be able to attend at a reasonable cost, have a family emphasis and medals for all event finishers, together with spot prizes for the lucky winners
In order to meet the expectations we are reliant on local businesses and a small number of national businesses to continue their generous sponsorship of the events. The Great Forest Events Incorporated Society is very grateful to the past support from groups and community and business members and looks forward to continuing this relationship for the Great Forest Events in coming years.
Over all the events, competitor numbers increase by approximately 10% per year and the 10km and 5km runs/walks are strongly supported by family and school group
Purposes of the Great Forest Events Incorporated Society include the following:
To promote and co-ordinate a physically active and healthy lifestyle programme and activity in the Horowhenua through:
· the set up, management and operation of running and walking events under the style of Great Forest Events
· the provision of an iconic walking and running event in the Horowhenua community
· the provision of events for family groups, sporting clubs, schools and the community
· the maintenance of a close liaison with and derives support from the club which instituted the original events, namely the Levin Joggers and Walkers Club
· ensuring that the Society continues to have a local-community focus, base, and loyalty and uses local resources and personnel where reasonably appropriate
To improve our community by meeting needs; by undertaking the service of providing a large scale physical event and keeping the costs within a level that families and individuals can reasonably afford
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