Chilly temperatures and a little frost under foot will not stop keen runners this weekend.
The historic Barnes Cross-Country gets under way tomorrow at Kettle Park.
About 100 runners have entered the handicap race — organised by the sharp eye of Athletics Otago president Rob Homan — with 52 entered in the main Barnes 5km race.
The race, open to competitors over the age of 16, is packed with healthy competitions between Dunedin clubs Hill City-University, Leith, Ariki and Caversham, and even has an athlete from Wellington Harriers on the start list for good measure.
A good mix from juniors to masters athletes are pulling on their shoes for their clubs, with a handful of community entrants as well.
There is also an open run or walk 3.75km race. Other races included an under-14 and under-16 2.5km track, a under-12 1.25km course and a 800m fun run for under-8 entrants.
The race is named after Sir James Barnes, a two-term member of Parliament for St Kilda, and Dunedin Mayor from 1968 to 1977.
Barnes, who won the New Zealand senior men’s cross-country title in 1932 and the mile in the 1933, did not think there were enough races during the cross-country season and donated the cup for the race in the early 1950s.
The first race gets under way at 1pm.
