April 11, 2017
Runners from Port Moresby to Adelaide – and all over Queensland – will be coming to Maidenwell over Easter to take part in the annual Maidenwell Running Festival.
They’ll be joining parkrun groups from Wondai, Toowoomba, Highfields, Dalby and Pittsworth to take on a range of courses that vary from a 2.2km short course suitable for children all the way up to a 56km ultra-marathon.
The Running Festival, which is organised by the Maidenwell Community Group, is now in its third year.
Runners have the choice of a variety of courses around the Maidenwell area on gravel roads and farm tracks, and drink stations will be set up at various points on the courses so runners can take a short break and rehydrate.
Based on sign-ups to date, organisers believe this year’s outing will be the biggest yet with between 300 and 500 runners taking part.
The Festival will run over three days from April 14-16.
On Good Friday, April 14, runners will set off from the Maidenwell Sports Complex on the J. A. Gorton Memorial Oval (the Maidenwell Sports Grounds) at 1:00pm to undertake one of the Festival’s two initial races: a 21.1km half marathon course or a full 42.195km marathon.
That evening, guests can get to enjoy a fish and salad dinner in the Maidenwell Hotel’s dining hall.
On Easter Saturday, April 15, runners will set off at 6:00am on one of three courses to tackle runs of 21.1km, 42.195km or a gruelling 56km ultra-marathon.
That evening, they can enjoy one of the Maidenwell Hotel’s traditional pig-on-a-spit nights with pork, lamb, beef and vegetarian options, and lots of roasted and steamed vegetables, along with live entertainment.
Then on Easter Sunday, April 16, they’ll have a smorgasboard of choices, ranging from a half or full marathon that starts at 6:00am; a 10km run that starts at 7:00am; a 5km run that starts at 8:15am; or a modest 2.2km run that starts at 9:15am.
There’ll also be an Easter Egg hunt and novelties to keep younger children amused.
Later that day, the annual Maidenwell Bull Ride will roar into life from 5:00pm and guests can enjoy a barbecue-type meal in the unrestricted area adjacent to the hotel before paying a fee to go into the restricted area to enjoy the non-stop bull-riding action.
This Bull Ride will be followed by live entertainment from Boots’n’Bandits, a top flight band that recently performed in Tamworth.
Maidenwell Run Coordinator Bruce Hargreaves says it will be interesting this year to see if the park runners who are attending will stick to their standard 5km distance or change to another one.
“The 2.2km is my favourite event, not only because it’s short and manageable by everyone, but because this is where the most fun is,” Bruce said.
“School children run the 2.2km distance with obvious joy.”
“The longer distances are for more athletic runners.”
More details about the Maidenwell Running Festival can be found on the Festival’s website
Online registrations closed at midnight on Tuesday but registrations will also be taken prior to the start of runs on each of the Festival’s three days.
Proceeds from the Running Festival will be used to raise funds for Tanduringie State School and the Maidenwell Community Group’s civic improvement projects in the town.
* * *
Maidenwell Fire Shed
The Maidenwell Rural Fire Service, located at the edge of the J. A. Gorton Memorial Oval, will also be joining in this year’s Running Festival by holding a Rural Fire Service Promotion Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, April 15-16.
The service will open their shed between 8:00am and 4:00pm on both days so visitors can inspect the brigade’s Light Attack and Medium Attack fire trucks.
Promotional material will also be available promoting critical elements of Fire Safety.
This includes “Prepare Act and Survive”, “Home and Property Preparation for Bush Fire Safety”, “Information for Landholders Applying to Light Fires”, “Obligations and Responsibilities for Landholders” and items suitable for young children.
Rural Fire Membership and Support Member packs will also be available.
