Gales force course changes

Athletes pictured running up the peak during a Peak Trail Blazer event. Photo / Supplied

Recent gale-force winds which felled several trees in the gully of Havelock North's Tainui Reserve have led to a change-of-course plan for the organisers of the Peak Trail Blazer set to be staged next month.

"We have made the decision to bypass that particular area this year," race director Jo Throp said.

"We walked through it with a couple of Hastings District Council staff and all agree we'd rather not run that part - it is a safety thing and we always take that seriously."

Ms Throp said while the council had done a first-class job of clearing the downed pines there was concern that if there were more strong winds over the next fortnight, more of the old trees could come down.

"November is notorious for throwing out some gnarly weather, so we'll stay out of that particular part of the reserve as a precaution."

She said while the Te Mata Peak trail and the Tainui trail would be affected by the change it did not affect the overall distances to a major extent as it was a short section.

"In fact, it may be a faster course given that we've taken out a rough downhill section dotted with tree roots and trails to navigate and replaced it with a footpath section."

Entrants for the November 15 event will now head out of Tainui Reserve at the "kissing gate", then Tainui trail blazers will loop round Hikanui Drive and take the stairs back down into Tainui Reserve, while Te Mata Peak trail runners and walkers continue down to Tauroa Rd as usual and then complete this new loop on the way home.

The Peak Trail Blazer is in its sixth year and was dreamed up as a fundraiser for Havelock North primary School by Ms Throp, Susie Devonshire and Rachel Cornwall.

As well as assisting the school it has donated more than $20,000 for community projects.