Athletes will go head to head in the 39th annual Red Stag Redwoods Forest Relay today.The annual event, organised by the Lake City Athletic Club for runners and walkers, is being staged at 10am, starting and finishing on Long Mile Rd.
Last year's overall winners Pakuranga are not returning to defend their title. This leaves the host club, Lake City, and the Hamilton City Hawks as favourites. The Hawks have some talented youngsters in their team and will be pushing the host club for the top spot. However, a team from Tauranga Triathlon Club could produce an upset.
The masters men section looks, on paper, like there will again be a strong tussle for the top grade place between Hawks and Lake City.
Both female sections - open women and masters women - have attracted an extremely small number of teams, with Lake City looking to be the top placer in the open section.
Last year, 39 teams entered the youth section with athletes representing secondary schools and athletic clubs. Unfortunately, the number in this section has dropped dramatically with entries from only 14 teams across the two grades being received. John Paul College is the only local secondary school team attending.