A happy band of recreational walkers and more serious runners turned out for the annual Kelly’s Canter at Palmerston on Sunday.
The 4km run or walk to the top of the 343m landmark Puketapu has been hosted by the Palmerston Lions Club most years since 1971, bar the Covid-19 blip.
Keen short-distance runners from across Otago mingled with social runners and walkers who took part just for fun.
Veteran Palmerston Lions member Noel Sheat said the local Constable Bert Kelly who famously ran to the top almost daily during World War 2 in just over 20 minutes had inspired the event, which began in 1971.
It had had always been "a community event" and for once it was "a perfect day".
"It’s dead calm at the top. One of the better days its been run," Mr Sheat said.
Const Kelly, served Palmerston for over three decades, and in the line of duty ran up Puketapu to spot any signs of enemy incursion out at sea.
He did it in the full heavy police uniform of the day, complete with boots.
At his best the 1.9m tall Const Kelly completed it in 21 minutes, grandson Grant Kelly said.
Dunedin’s Liam Chesney who was the men’s winner with a time of 20mins 12secs described the run as "pretty brutal".
Just a few seconds behind, Ryan Carr of Kyeburn, said it was great to be able to come to the Palmerston "grassroots" event which was a tribute to its organisers.
