Te Aka Ōtākou Tānga: The Winding Vine Relay

Te Aka Ōtākou Tānga: The Winding Vine Relay

Saturday 19th July 2025

Portobello to Port Chalmers, on the Shared Pathway

 

TEAMS ENTER HERE  Google form

Entries Close Midnight Tuesday 15th July

Further information and course descriptions Click Here

 

Race Entry Information and Race Rules

  1. The Te Aka Ōtākou Tānga: The Winding Vine Relay race will start on the shared pathway at the Portobello township adjacent to the roundabout and finish on the shared pathway at Port Chalmers. The course is split into six laps with a different runner (or walker), required to complete each lap. The entire relay course is on the shared pathway. Runners and walkers should run on the left-hand side of the shared pathway so that faster runners and cyclists can pass on the right. The “GO” team will start at 12.30pm.
  2. Entry is open to both club and community teams. Club teams can be made up of competitive, social and community athletes and may contain members registered with another club.
  3. Walkers can form part of a team. Please note on the team entry if a team member intends to walk the entire lap.
  4. Teams will be handicapped by the Athletics Otago handicapper. In this event, teams run the same distance but start at different time intervals. A 5km time is required for each team member. (A walking 5km time required for team members who intend to walk a lap). A 3km time will be accepted for Under 14 team members.
  5. Age eligibility to run laps (ages as on day of race).

(Leg 1- 3.7km 12+) (Leg 2- 4.8km 14+) (Leg 3 - 6.6km 16+) (Leg 4 - 3.4km 12+) (Leg 5 - 7.5km 16+) (Leg 6 - 5.0km 16+)  

  1. All entries are to be done online via Athletics Otago website www.athleticsotago.co.nz or through the Google Form here. Online entries close on Tuesday 15th July at 12.00 pm (Midnight). No late entries will be accepted for this event.
  2. Team changes will be accepted up to 12:10pm (20 minutes before the event starts) on 19th July (Race Day). Any changes must be notified to the race secretary events@athleticsotago.co.nz prior to race day, or in person on race day. A 5km time is required for the replacement runner/walker when this change is made. The handicapper may decide to change a team’s handicap depending on the replacement made.
  3. Emergency replacement during the race.  (That is, breakdown of runner during a lap, failure to show at start of a leg). If a runner fails to complete his/her leg, the next runner must report to the timekeepers at the end of the leg before going back and replacing the runner in distress, completing this leg and then running through and completing his/her leg. If a runner fails to show at the start of his/her leg, the incoming runner must wait with the baton until the nominated runner arrives. Any substitutions at this stage will cause the team to be disqualified.

 

 

 

  1. A team will be ineligible for first across the line or fastest time honours if any of the following occur: 
  • Team changes made after nominated time on race day (12:10pm)
  • If a runner runs two legs
  • Failure of a runner to show at the start of a leg.
  • Failure of a runner to run safely on the shared pathway

 

Entry Fees:      Community teams      $60 per team ($10 per entrant)

                        Club teams                  $5 for each team member registered as a competitive club member

                                                            $8 for each team member registered as a social club member

                                                            $10 for each team member who is not a club member

Club and community teams can enter online via Gameday (www.athleticsotago.co.nz). 

For Community and Club teams an invoice will be sent for Payment after the Relay.           

There are public toilet facilities close to the relay changeover points. (Portobello - next to the shop; Broad Bay - Broad Bay Boating Club; Macandrew Bay - community hall; Vauxhall - car park; Wharf Street - on reserve; Otago Yacht Club, Magnet St - entry via the car park)

Club marshals - Up to 6 club marshals will be required to help ensure the safe running of the relay. A separate document will be circulated when the marshal duties have been allocated to the clubs.

The presentations will be held at the Pioneer Hall, Port Chalmers and will be held as soon as possible after all the teams have finished.

Enquiries: Email:  events@athleticsotago.co.nz

 

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE PARTICIPATING IN THE

Te Aka Ōtākou Tānga: The Winding Vine Relay

 

Because of the handicap nature of this relay, it is not feasible to gather all runners together at the start for a safety briefing. The Cross Country Committee has passed the responsibility of briefing runners to the team managers. It is a condition of team entry that the team manager agrees to brief all runners in their team of the instructions listed below.

 

  • Even though the relay is being run on the shared pathway it is important to remember that the roads are open to traffic in both directions and normal pedestrian rules apply. Care must be taken when crossing the road to get to the shared pathway and the relay changeover points.
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  • Keep to the left-hand side of the shared pathway at all times, unless passing another runner. The pathway is a public facility and may be used by other runners and cyclists.
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  • For the second half of Leg 4, the shared pathway is on the harbour-side of the road. It is important to stay within the shared pathway boundaries and not to cut corners by running across to the other side of the road. The runners will be facing oncoming traffic.

 

 

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  • Just after the start of Leg 5, once the runners turn the Custom House corner, the shared pathway is on Fryatt Street. It is important to stay within the shared pathway boundaries. The runners will be facing oncoming traffic. At the end of Fryatt Street by the refuse transfer station, marshals will cross the runners over the road to the next part of the shared pathway. Runners may have to stop for traffic.
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  • Keep in single file, except when overtaking.
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  • Do not use music listening devices while competing.
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  • The marshals are there to help but it is each competitor’s responsibility to take care and keep themselves safe. They must be prepared to stop when requested by a marshal.
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  • At the relay changeovers, the drivers of support vehicles for team runners need to ensure that they park in a safe place and do not park in a manner that may hold up other traffic.  There is limited parking at some of the changeovers. This may mean drivers have to park further down the road from the changeover point before letting out runners. The runners would then cross over to the shared pathway and make their way back to the changeover point, avoiding blocking the pathway to competitors in the race or other users of the shared pathway.


Article added: Wednesday 09 July 2025

 

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