Southland Sport
- Thousands took part in the Wensley’s Cycles Surf to City, walking, running, and biking.
- The event supports community involvement, fundraising, and accessibility for all participants.
- Red Cross programme provides bikes for former refugees settling in Invercargill.
The Wensley’s Cycles Surf to City event once again drew thousands of Southlanders, with participants walking, running, and cycling from Oreti Beach to Invercargill’s Queens Park. Held today (March 2), the popular event saw around 4,000 people take part in different categories, ranging from 12km to 1.5km, making it the largest participation event in the region.
Despite a foggy start at Oreti Beach, the weather cleared to warm, overcast conditions, providing ideal conditions for participants. Among them were Janine Johnstone, Jann Robertson, Nicole Cronin, and Pam Casey from Ray White Gore, who were raising funds for Ronald McDonald House.
“We hadn’t done Surf to City before but we did the House to House Challenge last year and we thought we would do a few events as a group instead of doing it all individually,” Jann Robertson said.
Their goal is to raise $2,100 throughout March as part of a 210km challenge, representing the average distance a New Zealand family travels for life-saving hospital treatment.
Active Southland chief executive Vanessa Hughey-Pol said the event was significant for the regional sports trust.
“Pretty much all of our team get involved in some aspect of making sure this event runs smoothly and it’s great to see that Southlanders really value the opportunity to get out there and get amongst it,” she said.
She also highlighted the sense of connection and achievement at the finish line, calling it a “great vibe.”
The event prioritises accessibility, with sponsors and community support ensuring it remains affordable. Hughey-Pol acknowledged the contributions of Wensley’s Cycles and local organisations in making the event possible.
Rob McMurdo, owner of Wensley’s Cycles, described Surf to City as a special event.
“This is about community and it’s about getting off the couch and doing it. It’s a great thing,” he said.
This year’s event partnered with the Red Cross to support a programme providing bikes to new migrants in Invercargill.
Red Cross volunteer programme lead Darren Frazer said the Bikes for Former Refugees initiative, running for about five years, had made a significant difference for families.
“We’ve probably given out 400 to 450 bikes over that time, about 80 a year. You’ve got families coming here basically with the suitcases they arrived with and no transport. Because the bus network is a challenge, it helps with that sense of independence,” he said.
Frazer shared a story of a Red Cross employee who refused to part with the bike that had given him freedom when he first arrived.
“I see our bikes all over town,” he said.
Many of the bikes come from Central Otago, and a raffle for a Weber BBQ, running until the end of April, will raise funds to purchase more bikes and parts. A new volunteer also offered to help with bike repairs, adding further support to the initiative.