Masterton son an ultra trailblazer

Nobody could ever accuse former Wairarapa man Jerym Brunton of lacking in fortitude.
Brunton, 37, has long had an aptitude for endurance events but completing the 430-mile (692km) Yukon Arctic Ultra in Canada and the 1000-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational in Alaska on foot, with a break of only 10 days in between, puts him on a different plane than anyone else.
Never before in the history of these two races - rated as the two most difficult winter ultra events in the world - had they been attempted back to back by any individual and Brunton's effort to actually make it to the finish line on both occasions is a mind-boggling achievement.
Not that it surprised his father, Jamie Brunton of Masterton, who recalls his son's penchant for long-distance running coming to the fore when he was a pupil at Totara Drive and Hadlow schools and Rathkeale College.
"He was into triathlons as a kid ... the tougher the type of racing the better he seemed to like it," Mr Brunton said. "Give him a decent challenge and he would take it on."
To say this challenge was extraordinary, would actually be a major understatement.
Temperatures dropped to as low as -50C and, while carrying most of his gear, Brunton still needed a sled.
He often battled deep snow, icy cold winds and rain and there were times when the weather was simply too bad to make progress.
The terrain had a bit of everything with the numerous river crossings needing extra care because of the ice and the rushing waters.
The Yukon Arctic Ultra took Jerym 14 days to complete and the Iditarod Trail Invitational 27 days, and it was a testimony to his fitness that while he was obviously very tired at the end of the second assignment he was physically in good shape.
Providing extra motivation for the now London-based Brunton was knowing that by successfully completing the two races he would be boosting funds needed to purchase a specially adapted school minibus for Strathmore School in Richmond.
This school is for special needs children and aims to give them the skills to live as independently as possible in their communities.