Second title in a row for duo

A different wheelbarrow from last year's one didn't stop defending champions Gavin Graham and Mark Eagle from again taking out the 13km pub-to-pub race from Gladstone to Carterton on Saturday.

The race forms part of the annual Great Carterton Wheelbarrow Race which is a fundraising opportunity for schools and community groups.

The pair were over a minute slower than last year with a time of 53mins and 52secs but were still the overall winners.

Greg Lang, who organised the race, said the day saw some "fierce competition".

He said the winning pub-to-pub pair had a different wheelbarrow this year which impacted on their time.

"They flipped it about three times," he said.

Mr Lang said the whole wheelbarrow event that was centred in Memorial Square in Carterton went "really well" and organisers hoped the competition would get bigger and better - possibly involving an Australian competition - in years to come.

"Most of the competitors are actually keen to join with the organising committee and build it up," he said.

In the square itself, Mr Lang said there wasn't as big a crowd as in previous years due to conflicts with winter sports.

But the strongman competitions were very popular, as were the scooter races, he said.