While the skies were letting the rain fall las Saturday morning organisers of the Chincogan Charge had to make the tough call to cut out the final section of the run to the top for safety reasons.
‘The last section is quite rocky and steep,’ said the president of Mullumbimby’s Chamber of Commerce Jenelle Stanford who organised the race.
Fortunately by the time the junior runners were ready to take their places at the starting line the skies had cleared and around 30 young runners took off.
Max Bower was the first junior runner over the line while all the young runners were presented with with medals for their achievement of completing the race by Meadows Medical Centres Dr Peter Bowles and his wife Paula.
At 2pm 250 racers and walkers were again on the starting line in front of the Mullumbimby Fire Station for the 12+ race.
The first man across the line was Nathan Powell in 25.15 minutes and the first woman woman was Sophia McCarthy in 31.44 minutes.
‘We’d like to thank the land owners for opening up their land to this annual event,’ said Jenelle.
‘It is also really important to recognise that this event wouldn’t be possible without the support of all our local businesses including Mullumbimby Ex-Services club who were our major sponsor, The Byron Shire Echo, Chincogan Mechanical, Mullumbimby Newsagency and Stewarts Menswear and of course the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce.
‘A really big thank you needs to also go out to Mullumby’s Fire and Rescue for the preparation and hard work they put in before and on the day from first aid to water stations on the mountain. Without all these people and groups this event wouldn’t happen
‘The one thing I have found over the last two years since running this event is how appreciative the people are that they can access the mountain for just one day a year, the overwhelming thank you’s that our volleys receive make them only too happy to help out as people are all so happy on the day. Well done Mullumbimby.’
