The event was not held again until 1969, when the Harrier
section of
the
Alexandra
Athletics club was reformed. It was held on 13 September 1969, this
time an
open race of 6
miles for Alexandra club
members only. The winner was Murray Ball in a time of 34min 10secs. The
race
started outside the fire station in the main street of
In
1971, the event was opened to other Otago and Southland clubs, with
Harold
Genge of
In
1978, Euan Robertson of
In
September 1981,with a new road into
The Alexandra club was also one of the first clubs in the country to introduce the use of digital stop watches for timing of the event. In 1982, the Alexandra club introduced another innovation,the use of a large digital clock that could be mounted on the roof of the lead vehicle.
In 1994, the event was opened to recreational walkers. At this event organisers started to become concerned with the increasing amount of traffic in Alexandra, with Saturday shopping. The decision was made to alter the event to the present course.
In 1995, with the permission of ECNZ (now Contact Energy), the race started on the Clyde Dam, came down the hill and through the main street of Clyde. At the hospital turnoff, they turned onto Muttontown road, before joining state highway 8 to finish opposite the ice rink on the outskirts of Alexandra.
In 2001, a new trophy was by the Bendigo Hotel Social Club, for the first local walker in the 10km race, in memory of a favorite watering hole.
In 2004-2005, the race gained major sponsorship from Ecowaste who held naming rights for those two years.
In 2005, the U20 womens event was lengthened from 6km to 10km, after a request from the previous years competitors.
The event relies on the support of many volunteers, mainly club members and their families with a number of former members returning to help on the day. The support from the local business community for the loan of equipment for the course, as well as sponsorship is greatly appreciated.
The 2006 event marks 38 continuous years of the Clyde to Alexandra road races. The event is now open to everyone, regardless of whether or not they belong to a running club. There is a 10km race for walkers starting at 1pm, 10km race for runners at 2pm. There are also shorter road races for junior runners; 2000m for boys and girls under 14 at 1.00pm, 4000m for boys and girls under 16 at 1.20pm and 6000m for men and women under 18 at 1.30pm. All races finish opposite the Ice rink.
In 2008, the 40th Clyde to Alexandra Road Races were celebrated with the introduction of a 6km Walk and moving the 2km and 4km junior races to an off-road circuit throughtout the Pines next to the finish line race reserve.
For a summary of race winners over the years, click here
Last Updated: 25 January 2009
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