A record number of 2023 participants crawled, climbed and clambered through mud at Harbour Sport’s annual Mud Monster Mud Rush on the weekend. With a combination of all weather conditions possible, families and friends alike gathered at Massey University for the second event at the Massey site. Again, we saw numerous amounts of families and friends participating in the event together. The weather did not dampen spirits and the extra rain added to the muddy slimy course.

“One of the most amusing obstacles for the spectators was the first one which became renamed shoe graveyard” said Harbour Sport Chief Executive Toni-Maree Carnie. “We did warn people to attach their shoes with tape, the mud was deep and gluggy and sucked shoes off.

Even in the run up to the event, staff lost shoes in that mud. At one stage we had to rescue an official and a fireman who both got stuck in there helping a participant. But it kept the large crowd of onlookers amused”.

Harbour Sport had prepared viewing areas so parents and friends could walk along the side of much of the course and enjoy the spectacle. This enabled them to encourage and support those participating. A number of spectators vowed to return next year as participants as it looked just so much fun. “Often parents think that getting muddy and participating in these events is a kids thing, but clearly from the smiles on the faces of the teenagers and adults, this was something for them to also be actively involved in” said Raymond.

No doubt for parents the washing off thanks to the local fire brigade while not always being desirable thanks to the freezing cold blast, significantly reduced the amount of mud being transported back in the car and made for a cleaner drive home.