Round the Bays draws 72,000

Despite great numbers at Sunday's Ports of Auckland Round the Bays, organisers were actually disappointed.

Fairfax Media organises the event through The Sunday Star-Times and its suburban newspapers, including this title, and spokesman David Kemeys said numbers were well up on last year.

"We had around 70,000 last year, but blew that away with something around 72,000, but that left us strangely disappointed and wondering what it would be like to crack the 75,000 barrier," he says.

"With the continued support of great sponsors like Ports of Auckland, who knows? Maybe we can do that in 2011."

Prime Minister John Key was again on hand to start the event.

It was his first official outing on a day that would also include a visit to the Kumeu Show in his home electorate.

He told well-wishers "maybe next year", when they asked where his running shorts were.

Mr Key also made an unscheduled visit to Madills Farm to meet finishers of the event and visit the Ports of Auckland tent.

"This really is a magnificent event," he said.

"It's wonderful to see what is really `Auckland on display'."

Mr Key said the health benefits in terms of people preparing and exercising could not be measured.

The 8.4-kilometre course follows Waitemata Harbour from Quay St to Vellenoweth Green in St Heliers.

This year, funds raised at the annual event will be used to support three causes: the Waitemata Harbour Clean-Up Trust, Ronald McDonald House and Fairfax First Books.

- © Fairfax NZ News