This year's Northern Crossing - a multisport event from Hokianga in the west to Kerikeri's Stone Store in the east - will include for the first time a shortened course aimed at competitors seeking a middle-distance event.
Called the Missionary Trail, the 51km bike/run duathlon will start at Okaihau with a 13km mountain bike leg along the Twin Coast/Pou Herenga Tai cycleway, then link up with the full Northern Crossing route at Kaikohe. Competitors can switch to road bikes at Kaikohe before pedalling another 30km to Waipapa and running a 8km track down the Kerikeri River.
Like the longer coast-to-coast route, the Missionary Trail offers an optional kayaking leg turning the duathlon into a multisport event. This year's kayak leg - 6km for the Missionary Trail, 14km for the full Northern Crossing - has been shifted from the Hokianga Harbour to Kerikeri Inlet to make it less exposed to winter weather.
The Top Energy-sponsored event, now in its fourth year, will take place on Saturday May 18. As in previous years the full crossing will begin at Hokianga South Head, but contestants will run 8km to Pakanae for the bike transition and finish in kayaks rather than with a run. All routes can be entered by individuals or teams.
The Northern Crossing was founded four years ago as a Kerikeri Rotary Club fundraising project and a way of bringing greater exposure to the Mid-North. It was the brainchild of Rotarian and former community cop Jock Hodgson, who died earlier this year. Proceeds from the event go to the Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter and youth projects across Northland.
