300 have muddy fun time

Balclutha man James McDonald crawls cautiously  under barbed wire at  the Balclutha Mud Trudge on...
Balclutha man James McDonald crawls cautiously under barbed wire at the Balclutha Mud Trudge on Saturday. Photos: Samuel White.
Minions, superheroes, fairies and more braved the mud and water to overcome obstacles in the inaugural Balclutha Mud Trudge on Saturday.

The fun event was a fundraiser for the Balclutha St John volunteer ambulance service.

Individuals and teams had to make their way across uneven terrain and overcome obstacles which included a tyre wall, a crawl through mud under low-strung barbed wire, tyre runs and a wade through a swampy marsh.

Tennielle Guttery, Terri Tisdall, Danielle Robertson and Jacqui Henderson, all of Cromwell, rinse...
Tennielle Guttery, Terri Tisdall, Danielle Robertson and Jacqui Henderson, all of Cromwell, rinse off after the event.
Event organiser Rachel Jenkinson was thrilled with the turnout which resulted in 300 people taking part, all of them dressed up in costumes and brightly coloured outfits.

The event also helped raise more than $14,000 for St John, Mrs Jenkinson said.

She said everything went "really well" even though it was the first time she had organised an event of this sort.

"Although there are a few teething issues, we were really happy with how well everything went."

She hoped to host it again next year.

There were a couple of twisted ankles but almost everyone made it through uninjured, Mrs Jenkinson said.

"I’m not sure everybody was happy they went in it, as it was pretty hard yakka, I reckon."

Participant Andrew McQuade teamed up with his workmates from Otautau to dress  as minions for the wet event.

"All the bananas crossed the line," Mr McQuade said,  referring to the bananas which the fictional Minion characters worshipped.

"The mud bits were the best."

Fellow Minion Ruby Ryan said it was more fun to enter as a team than as individuals.

The event was run at the town’s Cross Recreation Centre.

samuel.white@odt.co.nz

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