The 108 Kelly's Canter runners set off from the Palmerston railway station for the 4km run to the 393m summit of Puketapu, east of the town, and back yesterday. Below: Winner Jake Jackson-Grammer, of Dunedin, and first woman home Sabrina Grogan, of Christchurch. Photo: Bill Campbell.
The canter attracted 108 runners, including several descendants of former Palmerston constable Bert Kelly, whose wartime runs up Puketapu on coastal-watch duties led to the establishment of Kelly's Canter in 1971.
The race took place in steady rain and the times were slower as runners had to negotiate a slippery downhill section.
The first man home, Jake Jackson-Grammer, of Dunedin, recorded a time of 21min 03sec.
That was almost a minute slower than the 20min 4sec recorded by Jonah Smith, of Dunedin, last year.
Sabrina Grogan (Christchurch) was fastest woman in 22min 10sec.
