King of the Mountain
Important Notice: King of the Mountain 2011 is scheduled for Sunday May 22nd
PANMURE’S KING OF THE MOUNTAIN 2010 Sunday 27 June
The Panmure Business Association had recently emailed all past entrants into our 2009 event with the new date and the fact that the Panmure YMCA would be looking after the event for us this year. Due to staff changes the YMCA realised that they would not be able to give us the support that we were looking for. This realisation meant that we needed to look for a new Sports Event Organiser which has taken several weeks.
We are proud to announce that our new event organisers are – Dick and Roxanne Quax from Athletics Marketing & Management.
Dick and Roxanne’s proposal offered us some significant changes to the existing event which needed to be seriously considered at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Panmure Business Association Board.
It was decided at the Meeting to go with the exciting new proposal as it reflected a closer alignment with our aims and objectives of what this event. Primarily it is to promote the businesses in Panmure and secondly to promote the surrounding area of Panmure/Tamaki . We also realised that we would not be able to do justice to the event with the date of 16 May so we have settled on Sunday 27 June 2010 which has now been booked and confirmed with Auckland City Events and all our suppliers.
Our Board agreed with Dick and Roxanne’s new proposal that focuses on a fun event with an added emphasis on the historic Wheelbarrow Race and also establishing a new Under 12 year old children’ s 2.5km race with the aim to involve of as many children and families from our community and beyond.
The Course has not been finalised but will still involve Mt Wellington/Maungarei for all races except the Children’s Race.
Distance races will now include a: 10km - run/walk 5 km - run/walk 5 km - Wheelbarrow Challenge and a 2.5 km – 12 & Under Children’s run/walk
We are now busy with finalising details of the course and registration forms both hard copy and on line. We are aiming at the middle of April to get these things out to you.
In the meantime please put a circle around the 27 June on your calendar.
Kind Regards Chris Sutton Town Centre Manager Panmure Business Association
HISTORYKing of the Mountain 2009 Final Results
Click this link to visit the King of the Mountain 2009 website
Click this link to view snippets from the King of the Mountain DVD 2008
New Zealand’s very first Extreme Sport...
The King of the Mountain race was adopted as a fundraiser for the St Johns Brigade in1958. There were 80 competitors of all shapes and sizes in the inaugural race - the starters were aged from 21 to over 50 years. All types of gear was worn - football boots, running shoes, gymnastic shoes, boots and bare feet. One person even tied hooks to his hands to help him climb the Mountain.
This became the first extreme sports event in New Zealand. Spectators made their contribution to the fund by donation.
The winner of the first King of the Mountain title went to Bill Anderson, a local dustman, a permanent professional cyclist whose powerful legs left all behind in a time of 13 minutes.
In 1960 due to the issues of amateurs and professionals competing together not satisfying the rules of the Athletics association the “King of the Barrow Boys” race was born.
The Barrow teams were made up of 4 members with one sitting in the wheelbarrow at all times. This would not have been an easy ride for the passenger who on the homeward leg faces grim death whilst trying to retain his or her seat in the wheelbarrow. The first wheelbarrow race had only 18 competitors and was won by a team of the Trust Hotel Barmen.
The field in 1960 included Peter Snell and Murray Halberg. The running race was won by Iron Man Bill Ballie in the time of 11 minutes 30 seconds; in 1962 the race was won by Bill Sutcliffe in the blistering time of 9 minutes 51 seconds.
THE MOUNTAIN – Maungarei (Mt Wellington)
MAUNGAREI is Auckland’s second youngest volcano, erupting 9.000 years ago. It is the largest scoria cone in the volcanic field having been produced by lava fountain from three vents in the crater. Lava poured from around the base of the cone forming an extensive crater.
The cone has been modified on the southern side where a quarry operated for over 100 years, up to 1967. Modification also occurred in 1960 when a water reservoir was constructed in one of the vents this is now camouflaged as a grassed field.
Maungarei means ‘Watchful Mountain’ or ‘The Mountain of Reipae’ – a Tainui ancestress who travelled to Northland in the form of a bird. The maori settlements were Mokoia Pa and later Mauinaina Pa and fortification ditches and terraced house sites can still be seen.
The English name of the mountain was named in honour of Duke of Wellington.
THE PEOPLE
The King of the Mountain has become a serious event for serious athletes, and a fun event for families and others not challenged to beat any of the times, just out to have a great day.
The event attracts people in all age groups from the babies in buggies to age 71. Our participants include athletes, business people, families, school children, Auckland City Councillors, Tamaki Community Board members, Senior Citizens, people from across the community.
This event honours the community spirit as well as the values of team effort, joint ventures, acknowledgement of the individual.
The King of the mountain event attracts competitors from far and wide. Tourists from Austria, Sweden and Scotland have participated in the past.
If you wish to visit our King of the Mountain Wesite and enter this years event on-line please go to the following link.
