Whakatāne Children's Athletics

🌭🔥🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💰🙌📣

UPDATE:

We’re thrilled to announce that the fundraising sausage sizzle team is all set!

🌭🎉 Huge thanks to Pauline and their netball team - Ōpotiki Kōtahi - they can’t wait to see everyone there.

🏐😃 Come grab a sausage sizzle after your Bush Half Marathon walk/run tomorrow. 🚶‍♂️🏃‍♀️

🌭 See you then! 😊

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📣 Fundraising Opportunity! 🌭🔥

The Whakatāne Athletics & Harrier Club will have a sausage sizzle setup available at the Bush Half Marathon tomorrow 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

We're offering our BBQ equipment and full setup—you supply the kai 🌭 and fundraise for your group 💰

Perfect for:
✅ Sports teams
✅ Scouts
✅ School groups
✅ Community organisations

Interested? Please get in touch by 3.00pm today (Friday 17 July).

The event starts at 9.00am tomorrow (Saturday 18 July).

🙌 A great opportunity to raise funds while supporting a fantastic local event.

📞 Contact Chirese Viljoen: 027 551 2111

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HP7h5Mufb/

Send a message to learn more

The Jones Memorial Races are on tomorrow!!!

This Saturday, June 27, 2026, the Jones Memorial is presenting three courses to choose from:

🥇The Fred Jones 6km handicap race from the clubrooms to Kapu te Rangi hilltop and return.

🏆The Ron and Anne Jones 4km race to the top of the Birdwalk and return (which may be scored on handicap), and

🏃‍♀️The Noel Jones 2.06km race to the Birdwalk entrance and beyond.

Please assemble at 1pm for a 1:30pm start. All runners and walkers are invited regardless of membership, though you must be a club member to be eligible for a trophy.

The Jones family are warmly invited to the races and the Club Barbecue afterwards. Club members are asked to bring afternoon tea goodies.

🏃🌿 The Whakatāne Bush Half Marathon is almost here! 🌿🏃

The iconic team behind the legendary Toi's Challenge is proud to bring you the 2026 Whakatāne Bush Half Marathon on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

⏰ ONE WEEK LEFT UNTIL THE ENTRY PRICE INCREASES!
Register before 30 June to save $10 on your entry!

Starting from the beautiful shores of Ōhope, this event is more than just a run – it's an adventure through some of the Eastern Bay's most stunning scenery.
🌿 The course includes:
✔ Native bush tracks
✔ Meandering gravel roads
✔ Smooth sealed roads
✔ Amazing views of Whakatāne and Ōhope

Whether you're aiming for a personal best or taking on your first event, there's a distance for everyone!

🏅 Every finisher receives a medal, no matter which distance you choose:
• Half Marathon – $50 ($60 after 30 June)
• 10km – $30 ($40 after 30 June)
• 5km – $20 ($30 after 30 June)

📅 Event Details
📍 Location: Ōhope Christian Fellowship Church
🗓 Date: Saturday, 18 July 2026
🕘 Start Time: 9:00am sharp

Important Information
• Online entries close 11:59pm, Thursday 16 July 2026.
• Race day entries are available from 7:00am–8:30am (cash only) with a $10 late entry fee.
• Race check-in is from 7:00am–8:30am.
• Please bring your own cup or water bottle. Water refill stations will be available along the course.
• A sausage sizzle fundraiser and refreshments will be available at the finish line.
• Limited parking is available at the venue, with plenty of parking at Maraetotara Reserve and along Pōhutukawa Avenue.

🎉 Challenge yourself, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and be part of a fantastic community event.

👉 Register today and save before prices go up!
📧 Registration enquiries: [email protected]

🔗 Tap the link below to enter!

2026 — Whakatane Bush Half Marathon 2026 — Whakatane Bush Half Marathon 2026 71 Maraetotara Road, Ōhope, New Zealand - The team behind the legendary Toi’s Challenge is back – and… - July 18, 2026

Junior Harriers Program Information for this week!

Today, Monday, we are going to the beach! Yes beach and sand dunes running. Meet clubrooms 345pm if you want a ride or 4pm at Omega Place Coastlands.

Tuesday WiS criss country Conor, Ryker and John

Wednesday 2km Time Trial meet clubrooms 5pm to warmup for 515pm jog to start at Hospice.

Thursday no run but a great number of club qualified tor EBOP interschools Jabu, Musa, Isla, Jesse? (all Awakeri), Elsa (Apanui), Roimata, Evie (Opotiki), Iris (Ohope), Parker (James St), Hudson, Keelan and Rowan (St Josephs). Hope I kissed no one, sorry!

Saturday Harriers Jones Memorials. Noel Jones (2.06km), Ron and Anne Jones (4km) and Fred Jones (6km). Meet clubrooms 1pm.

Celebrating:

Monday tremendous reps taken by Catherine assisted by Renine, Esther, Jacqui. Elsa, Eli, Keelan, Hudson, Iris, John, Jesse, Elora, Parker, Grayson, Sophia.
Notable 250m PBs 47.36, Keelan 51.26, Jesse/Iris/John 54.36, Parker 66.50.
300m John 67.56, 150m Eli 31.78, Grayson 34.18, Keelan 25.58, Hudson 26.21

Wednesday Izzy 1500m

Thursday super birdwalk running and East to West Seat reps especially Hudson and Rowan, Melissa, Ari, Sage, Rose, Rochine, Ryker, Pete

Saturday Club Champs
10 and Under 2km Iris & Musa 1st, Thandi 2nd Girl, Parker 3rd boy. Also Makhosi.
11-12 2.4km Super fast Isla and Jabu 1st, also Izzy
13-14 4.8km Conor and Lilly both 1st.
Open Women Rosie Winner!!

Sunday superfast Tauranga Track reps Madeleine and Kaydence 900m 3:30, 800m 2:50!!, 700m 2:38, 300m 54-55.

Bigwood Memorial and Cooper Trophy

Dear runners and fast walkers. A very big invite to a primo run/walk along and up the Bigwood Memorial Trophy 12.3km and Cooper Trophy (For females) 6.2km Races this Saturday 13 June 2026. There is also a 2km race.

Meet at Maraetotara Reserve at 1:00 pm for a 1:30 pm start. These are handicap races, but please come along if you are new, you are welcomed!!!!

Please note that we will be running this event as a Sealed Handicap and that means we will all leave together and the finish time will be adjusted by the handicap. The walkers are invited to leave earlier and self-time themselves.

The courses are:
2km - Start opposite Maraetotara Reserve, run down Maraetotara Road to cone at substation and return.

6.2km - Start opposite Maraetotara Reserve, run down Maraetotara Road to cone at gate at bottom of Burma Road and return.

12.3km - Start opposite Maraetotara Reserve, run down Maraetotara Road to gate at bottom of Burma Road, continue up metal road to top, then to down Burma Road to cone at Ōhope Hill Road and return.

⛑️Safety Reminders⛑️

🚦Please watch for cars.

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️Run on left side of road down Maraetotara Road unless it is dangerous to do so around corners. On Burma Road run on right side of road going towards Ohope Hill Road, and left side coming back.

🚴‍♀️Watch for mountain bikers

☕️Please bring a plate for afternoon tea and thermos of hot water.

Come and join the whakatane bush half marathon organised by the whakatane athletics and Harrier Club
Thanks too our sponsors

First Credit union
1xx
Accountants on domain

The Whakatāne Toi's Challenge proudly introduces the Half Bush Marathon on July 18 entries are open now as well as the 5k and 10k 😁