Charge the Chinny! Hurry – spots will fill up 

Aslan Shand

The opportunity to run, or take a stroll, up Mount Chincogan is coming your way for the second year in a row.

After a 16-year hiatus, the Chincogan Charge was started up again last year by the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce. It creates a once-in-a-year opportunity to run or walk to the top of the iconic local mountain.

Building on last year’s successful run, organisers and Council will close down Dalley Street between Burringbar and Tincogan Streets and start the race from Mullumbimby Post Office.

Last year, Benjamin Duffus broke the previous record of 29 minutes and 51 seconds by Matthew Kaluda in 1994, running the race in 29 minutes and 11 seconds.

While the runners and walkers are off up the mountain, the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club will be running a bar in the street, while a tug-of-war will entertain everyone while they wait for the runners’ return.

Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce president Jenelle Stanford said, ‘The tug-of-war has a $200 prize for the winning team that is sponsored by Mullumbimby Removals and there are up to six teams that can enter the competition.’

‘The winning team will automatically qualify to enter the Mullumbimby Agricultural Show later this year.’

If you are interested in entering a team in the tug-of-war drop into the Mullumbimby Newsagency for an application form.

Another new feature this year will be the kids’ run for six- to eleven-year-olds that will be a run from the post office to the bottom of the mountain and back.

‘All of the kids will receive a medal for participating from the Meadows Medical Centre,’ said Jenelle.

Prizes

The first woman and man across the line will both receive $500; second prize is $350 and third $150 donated by the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club.

The Echo is donating the prizes for the first three local women and men across the line, who will receive $300, $150 and $50 respectively.

‘Once we reach 500 runners then the registrations will close,’ said Jenelle.

‘People are booking in to both run and walk the race so make sure you don’t leave it too late and miss out.’

Book your spot online at www.mullumbimby.org.au/chinny-charge before the spots are gone.