During the one sunny day of last week the Southland primary schools cross-country was held at the Southern Field Days Waimumu site.
The event, held last Friday, was co-ordinated by East Gore School principal Wendy Kitto.
After a week of rain the course was slightly wetter than usual, Ms Kitto said.
“We managed to avoid most of the wettest parts of the track so probably not the fastest track we’ve run but definitely a fun track if you want a wee bit of mud.
“I was quite surprised we didn’t lose as many shoes as we usually do.”
Four hundred and forty-eight pupils entered in the event and came from as far away as Te Anau and Stewart Island.
St Peter’s College pupil Max McGregor won the 13-year-old boys event.
The course was muddy but it “wasn’t that bad”, he said.
His plan was to start fast and get ahead of the pack before the forestry section of the course.
“It’s quite narrow and you’ve got to get in front,” he said.
