River walk huge success

Sunday's inaugural Blenheim River Walk looks set to become an annual event.

About 200 people tackled yesterday's 4km trek, organised by Blenheim Rotary to coincide with the 2010 Heritage Day at Brayshaw Park. It is a miniature revival of the acclaimed Marlborough Work, a 28km march people did along State Highway 1 between Blenheim and Picton.

Launched in 1965, the Marlborough Walk was held annually until 2000 when it was decreed unsafe with the increasing volumes of traffic.

No motorised vehicles impeded yesterday's walk and Blenheim Rotary president Robyn Anderson was pleased with the turnout.

"And if we have it every year, it will only grow," she predicted.

Patricia Tapp, 67, reached Brayshaw Park 40 minutes after leaving the amphitheatre.

"I had three others with me, but I left them behind," she said with a grin, resting on a bench at the park.

She remembered doing the Marlborough Walk one year with one of her daughters, aged 13 or 14 at the time. It took them three to four hours. "It was bloomin' hot, too."

Younger daughter Teresa Montgomery, 41, granddaughter Stacey, 17, and Stacey's friend Carrie Edwards, 18, arrived at the park about 10 minutes after Mrs Tapp. "We were just cruising, looking at the trees," Mrs Montgomery explained.

Joelle Loomis was waiting for her daughter's group of Brownies to reach Brayshaw Park and said the walk was a great idea.

Moving to Blenheim from the United States six and half years ago, Mrs Loomis and her husband take their two daughters to Brayshaw Park each year for Heritage Day.

"It shows the children what life was like ... they can't go into their future without understanding their history," Mrs Loomis said.

Barbara Roughan, who recently celebrated her 60th wedding anniversary, said the River Walk was quite easy compared to the Marlborough Walk, which she had done four times. "It's a good idea to get people out walking, especially on a day like this."

Glenda Phelan agreed. Pushing a double pushchair with children Shiloh, 2, and Cerys, 4, riding in it, she was also joined by older children Arin, 6, and Fletcher, 9, and a few adult friends.

"It certainly gets us out together for a change – instead of sitting around and drinking coffee," Ms Phelan said.

- The Marlborough Express