48th Bluff Vets half marathon this weekend

THE annual Bluff Vets 21km run and 15km run/walk takes place at the Fynnlands Combined Sports Club in Smith Drive on Sunday, 16 November.

As this is a vets race, only veterans will be eligible for prizes in both events.

This year’s event will be the 48th running of the ‘Vets’ and the organisers are expecting a field in excess of 500 athletes on the day.

The race starts at the Fynnlands Combined Sports Club, Smith Drive, Bluff at 6am and will take athletes right into Lighthouse Road, to and past the entrance to the Bluff Military Base, proceeding along the Bluff’s most scenic road, Marine Drive. They will pass through Treasure Beach down to Badulla Drive. At this point athletes turn right and proceed along Tara Road, past Engen Refinery all the way to Grays Inn Road where they turn left and proceed to Brighton Road, running up to and past Thompson’s Tea Cafe to Doon Road.

This is the business end of the race where athletes tackle the strenuous Bluff Road stretch. This climb, three kilometres from the end will test the fitness levels to the max. Cresting at Spar the ‘down-hill’ not only provides relief to the runners but allows for a relatively fast finish.

At the Arcadia Retirement Home, athletes keep left and proceed along Lighthouse Road to Smith Drive. Finally a right turn into Smith Drive, a short climb and then home.

The 15km walk starts at the same point and follows the route as far as Highbury Road, where walkers turn right and proceed toward Kingsley Road before joining the main route at Tara Road.

The management of Bluff Athletic club thanks Bluff residents for their support and understanding on the day, in accommodating what little disruption there might be. Residents are most welcome to support the athletes by attending the start and finish ceremonies.

For enquiries contact club chairman, Kevin Adams by email at bluffathleticsclub@gmail.com