O’Keefe Challenge rides into town

THE annual O’Keefe Challenge is just around the corner with a night bike ride this Saturday, 29 April, before the main walking and running events hit the track a week later.

Challenge director Nigel Preston said the Light the Trail Night Ride was an untimed social event.

“It’s just for people to come and have fun,” he said. “Group night rides are very rare and it’s a fantastic experience riding along the trail with everyone who has decorated their bikes and clothes with glow sticks and fairy lights.

“There are Bendigo to Heathcote and Axedale to Heathcote lengths. The Axedale to Heathcote is more popular.”

On Saturday, 6 May, Barrack Reserve at Heathcote will come alive from 8am with an event village offering up entertainment alongside the regular monthly bush market.

Mr Preston said it would be organised and hosted by Heathcote Community House.

“There will be a climbing wall and other active games for kids with sports games and sports activities,” he said. “They’ll be some carnival activities as well to tie in with the market.”

This year the Challenge will be on a Saturday rather than a Sunday.

“We’ve moved the day to tie in with the local Heathcote market and response so far has been really positive about that,” Mr Preston said.

“Numbers for the marathon are touch under 100 at the moment, our half marathon is a touch under 200 and in our relay we’ve got about 20 to 25 teams.

“The relay is a really good way for people to participate in a group. For example some people are from the same gym, some people are from the same workplace.

“There’s also really good numbers in our five km run and walk in particular,” he said. “We’ve got about 75 in that so far.

“Entries tend to come in later for that given that it’s five km and a bit more relaxed.

“That’s our specific event that’s linked to the Heathcote Dementia Alliance, so it’s got a particular resonance for lots of people.”

HDA’s prototype care villa, Costerfield House is due to arrive in Heathcote a week before the Challenge and will be on show on the day.

“People who are walking the five kilometre event are going to be invited to take a short detour just at the start to have a quick look at Costerfield House, because the route has been designed to go quite close to it,” Mr Preston said.

The O’Keefe Challenge follows the O’Keefe rail trail marking the route of the original Heathcote to Bendigo train line which opened in 1889.

Registrations for some events, including the night ride and the 5 km walk, are available on the day.

For more information about the trail and the Challenge visit theokeefe.com.au