HE WAS the youngest, smallest, fittest and fastest and this morning claimed the inaugural NRMA Macksville Gift River Fun Run in a canter.
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Nine-year-old pocket-rocket Daniel Williams was too good by half over the scenic 6km course – flashing home in a tick over 24 minutes.
A small but enthusiastic field fronted the starter’s gun, and headed out along the banks of the Nambucca River under rumbling skies. The course saw the runners cross Newee Creek and head under the imposing new Pacific Highway bridge before looping back and crossing the river on the old Macksville Bridge and finishing at the Gift grounds.
“It was a fun course and it was nice with the rain cooling you down,” Daniel said.
Daniel’s mum and dad were also in the field, and mother Michelle Versluys was the first female across the line and fourth overall. Male runners John Powell and Sohrabh Memon completed the podium.
The six kilometre course was made to measure for Daniel, though he has lately been training for shorter distance, placing third in the 800 metres at the PSSA State Championships three weeks back.
Mum Michelle was also impressed by her first look at the fun run course.
“It was challenging with the rain but it was beautiful running by the river and it was exciting to go under the new bridge,” she said.
The next event of the Active Macksville Gift will be the street parade through the heart of Macksville from 11.30am.
Entry to the Gift grounds is free and a massive afternoon of racing and entertainment is on offer, concluding with the finals tonight and fireworks.