IT was proven conclusively at the weekend the hugely successful Run the Plains festival is here to stay after organisers received 800 registrations – double the number recorded at last year’s inaugural event.

Hundreds of visitors joined hundreds of locals to take part in running events designed for all ages and abilities, over varying distances and courses.

Run the Plains, jointly organised by Moree Little Athletics, Tourism Moree and Moree Run Club, was an unrivalled success, and has firmly placed itself alongside Moree on a Plate, the Moree Show, Young Aggies Ball, Fathers’ Day Markets and Car Show, and Moree Christmas twilight races as one of the town’s signature events.

Co-organiser, Moree Plains Shire councillor Kelly James, said participants and spectators from across the eastern seaboard converged on Moree.

“People travelled a long way for this,” James said.

“We received registrations from Victoria, Sydney and from the top of Queensland as well as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

“Run the Plains is now much more than a regional event. People have come from everywhere to be a part of it.

“We even had travellers passing through town who weren’t aware it was on, but decided to stop and stay the night so they could compete Friday and Saturday,” she said.

Run the Plains this year also received funding from Destination NSW, the state government agency responsible for promoting tourism and events in New South Wales.

Destination NSW operates under the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport and oversees strategic marketing, event development and stakeholder engagement for major events across New South Wales.

“Destination NSW gave us a grant towards the event, meaning they’re event partners, which is fantastic,” James said.

Spectators lined Balo Street on Friday night to cheer dozens of participants in several races, and dozens more backed up on Saturday morning to face off in longer events, which followed a set course through Moree streets and parklands.

Races on Saturday included the Inland Vegetation Management Triple, McGregor Gourlay Agricultural Services Half Marathon, B&W Rural 10km, Grove Juice 5km and C&W Financial Services 3km.

“We had a heap of spectators, which was great. It’s been insane again,” James said.

“There was plenty of food. Rotary Club was on the barbecue cooking breakfast, and the Alpha Omega recovery zone was on-site for all runners to use after competing.

“There were a lot of events, and a lot of competitors recorded personal best times.”

When official starter Ronny Clissold let the first field of runners go at around 7.30am, there were 781 online registrations, with some late-comers signing up early Saturday.

“This year’s numbers were a lot bigger than last year – a lot bigger,” James said.

“There were 800 entries this year, which is amazing, considering this was only our second Run the Plains event.

“It was also great to see lots of younger kids getting on board and a lot of older adults getting on board as well,” she said.

The Inland Vegetation Management Triple men’s was taken out by Zeb Chapman, who beat Murray Sullivan and Logan Thrift, with the ladies triple won by Teigan Cummins, from Beth Taiaroa and Jane Edwards.

Adam Tribe won the gruelling 21.1km men’s open from Buddy Hippi and Zeb Chapman, with Maddie Mortimer winning the 21.1km ladies open from Kirree Quayle and Abbey O’Neill.

The 10km men’s open was won by James Boland, beating Angus Gall and Simon Davie, with the ladies won by Alex O’Brien, who beat Eliza McNiven and Jazmine Slack-Smith.

Junior boys 10km was won by Digby Adams, beating Caleb Fleming and Mason James and the junior girls 10km was won by Sophie O’Brien, who beat Millie Hardman.

Georgia Clyne won the ladies 5km open, beating Lizzie Gooden and Jill Turner, with Noah Humphries beating Joshua Webb and Sam Kelly in the men’s 5km open.

Marley Legg won the girls 10-12 years 5km from Sophie Jensen and Sophia Cutler, with Isaac Lethorn beating Chase Cosgrove and Jake Ewart in the boys 10-12 years 5km.

The 13-16 years girls 5km was taken out by Jayde James, beating Abbey Muggleton and Lucy Kelly, with Thomas Humphries beating Jonah James and Kingsley Lai in the 13-16 years boys 5km.

Bella Boland won the under-10s girls 5km, with Tom Jensen beating Austin Legg and Edward McNamara in the under-10s boys 5km.

The C&W Financial Services men’s 3km was won by Paul Westcott, with Karen Bowhay winning the ladies 3km.

Isaac Lethorn, the 10-year-old running sensation from the Gold Coast and great grandson of well-known Moree centenarian, the late Les Smith, won the boys 10-12 years 3km in 11min 16sec in – the fastest of all age groups. Evelyn Woods won the girls 10-12 years 3km.

Jonah James won the boys 13-16 years 3km, with Kate McDonald winning the girls 13-16 years 3km.

Under-10s girls 3km was won by Savannah Cutler, with Billy Assef winning the boys under-10s 3km.

Again, dozens of Moree and district businesses and organisations laced up the runners and rallied to the cause, with strong sponsorship and support.

“Moree is always a phenomenal town when it comes to sponsorship and support from businesses, and Run the Plains this year was no different,” James said.

“Gold sponsorship is intensely coveted and when spots came up, they were taken very quickly.

“We more or less had the same sponsors as last year, as well as a quite a few new ones. Everyone was happy to come back for a second time – it’s been great,” she said.

Moree coach and official starter Ronny Clissold, who had a big stable of more than 20 runners competing, said Run the Plains was again a huge success.

“It’s been a great day, with a big crowd, and everybody has enjoyed themselves,” Clissold said.

“All my runners went well and held their own. They enjoyed themselves and that’s the main thing.

“Events like this are great for Moree. It’s been a fantastic roll-up, and we saw some good runners competing, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

Words and Images: Bill Poulos