10th ANNIVERSARY AND SADLY, THE LAST RUNNING OF THIS EVENT: This will be the tenth running or this event and sadly the last. We are organising another trail running event - the Hillary Trail Challenge which will follow the route of the established Hillary Trail (75km, 30km and 15km). This is in consultation stage with the Auckland Council and is planned for early 2013. There is much consultation to complete with local groups and Council (hence to 2013 date), but we know already that there is a section of the Wild Turkey event that has a council imposed 1 event per year limit on it. So it is one or the other and we believe the Hillary Trail Challenge event will be the better of the two.

So take your part in history and partake in the last event Wild Turkey Off-Road Half Marathon and 15km!

EVENT CENTRE: The event centre is at Whatipu, at the southern end of the Waitakere Ranges in Auckland.
Travel to Whatipu via Titirangi and Huia. As there is limited parking space and you follow a narrow, winding, gravel road for the last 6km to the event, we recommend car-pooling. Please park as directed.

REGISTRATION: Registration and compulsory gear checks will be open from 7.30am Saturday the 21st April at the event centre in Whatipu. Race start for both courses is 9am.

Please ensure you have enough nutritional supplies and water for your needs (there will not be water on the course).

Prizegiving will be at 3pm, at the event centre, Whatipu Road end.

A BBQ will be supplied for participants on completion of the course and there is a shop at the Whatipu lodge.

THE COURSE: The course is ...from Whatipu at the southern end of the Waitakere ranges follow Gibbons track, then at the junction with Walker Ridge track the half marathon course goes straight onto Muir track (the 16km goes right up Walker Ridge Track), down to the Pararaha Stream, straight across and up Buck Taylor Track, then right onto Odlin Timber Track, Left at Orange peel corner (where the 16km participants join up), then right onto Donald McLean Track, right down the hill along Puriri Ridge Track, which becomes Kura track, which takes you all the way to the finish at the bottom of the hill, back at Whatipu.

The 21km old course took just under 2 hours for the winner and up to 5 hours for some participants. The winning time for the 16km option was around 1 hour 30 and up to 3 hours for walkers.  (Check out the course records) New course so all new records are up for grabs. We reckon the 21km course for the Wild Turkey II is harder than the original.

KAURI DIESBACK - Phytophthora taxon Agathis
Kauri dieback or commonly known as PTA, Phytophthora taxon Agathis is a fungus-like disease that only affects kauri.  It is believed to be soil-borne, spread by soil and soil water movement, human and animal vectors.  Kauri dieback presents a serious threat to iconic kauri trees in the Waitakere Ranges and the ARC is implementing measures on parkland to prevent or limit its spread.  It is important that all activities in the Ranges, including adventure races, consider the impact on the spread of this disease.
To minimise the risk of any further spread of the disease fr! om the known (and unknown) contaminated sites, the following phytosanitary and hygiene standards are to be implemented for the event;

  • It is a rule of the event that all participants keep to the route and tracks at all times. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
  • Participants are asked to ensure that footwear is clean prior to the event starting. Clean is defined as “removal of all soil/debris from footwear used in the event”
  • Participants will have to go through a footbath before the event starts and again after the finish line.
  • This year, in addition to the start and finish footbaths above there will be three further footbaths on the course.  These will be marked with a sing so please slow down as you approach the baths and walk carefully through.  It is compulsory for all participants to use these footbaths.

For more information about kauri dieback go to www.kauridieback.co.nz.

WAITAKERE RANGES PARK STEWARDSHIP
For the event it is essential we promote and protect the uniqueness of the area. Five main things need to be adhered to.

  • Keep to marked trails to avoid vegetation damage and tracking.
  • No dogs
  • Obey all instructions from the ARC Ranger and event marshals
  • Ensure all wrappings of multi-sport snacks and drink bottles/ tops are carefully tucked back in your bum-bag/pack.

And some other points to note to ensure minimal impact on the park and its other users and hence the continued running of the event:

  • Please where possible car pool with other participants to minimise the number of cars on the Whatipu road.
  • Take care driving there and back, i.e. it's a metal road, narrow and windy in places
  • Please be courteous to other users of the park. Please, if you come across other users of the park slow down to a walk, smile, say "hello nice day isn't it?", and then allow them through. You should only lose a couple of seconds and it will ensure other park users have a good experience upon meeting any of our race participants.

COMPULSORY CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT: The safety of our participants is important to us. For this reason we insist every participant carries certain minimum clothing and safety equipment. Each participants compulsory gear will be checked by race officials at registration.

Each competitor must carry the following (relevant to both courses): Weatherproof parka, thermal gloves and hat, polypropylene or thermal long sleeve shirt and a first aid kit. The first aid kit must contain as a minimum: 2 metres of adhesive strapping tape, 4 bandaids, 2 gauze pads, 4 cm width crepe bandage, 2 pain relief tablets (Panadol or similar), 2 anti-inflammation tablets and a survival blanket.



Enquires to Shaun on (09) 817 7621