Athletics: Smaller crowd better for race

The crowd was smaller for the Timebuster race around the Octagon on Saturday but Athletics Otago officials were not concerned.

The race is usually held on the annual market day in the Octagon but the Dunedin City Council decided to shift the race to an earlier date during the Dunedin Festival.

Athletics enthusiasts watched the annual sprint round the Octagon but the normal bustling crowd was not there.

The only other spectators were members of the Otago Vintage Car Club waiting to start their run to Brighton.

It changed the atmosphere and the 19th annual New Zealand Shop Timebuster race was held without the hustle and bustle of previous years.

"It was a city council decision and it has made the organisation of the race better," event organiser Mike Weddell told the Otago Daily Times.

"We have certainly lost some of the atmosphere but it has made it better for us."

Athletics Otago administrator Margaret Knox said that the absence of the market day stalls made it easier to stage the race.

"The stalls used to jut out over the course and it had been bit nightmarish for us with people standing in the way," she said.