Survivors Club
The Red Stag Rotorua Marathon boasts a unique and esteemed club affectionately referred to as the 'Survivors Club.' Its members have notched up an impressive achievement - they've participated in and successfully completed a remarkable 15 or more full marathons.
Rotorua Marathon Survivors Club - 2024
Saturday 4 May 2024 saw 149 members of the Club take on one of the events on offer. 125 the full marathon, 19 the half, 3 the 10km and 2 the 5.5 km.
Those who joined the club as newbies or moved up follow:
15 years: Sandra Bird, Kerris Browne, Chris Bycroft, Mark Fisher, Julie Francis, Terry Hooper, Maree Kinder, John Molloy, Linda Montgomery, Catherine Quin, Warren Searle, Michael Stowers, David Wackrow
Those that moved into the next 5-year category were:
20 years: Rebecca Drage, Robert Dyer, Luanna George, Lynette Anne Kipa, Donna Roderick, Karen Smart
25 years: James Burnside, Gareth Jess, Peter Kennedy, Mark Knowles
30 years: Wayne Hart, Tina Pointon, Michael Rogers, Ross Steele, Sarah Wiwarena
35 years: Ian Chibnall, Albie Jane
40 years: Phil Kirk
Courtesy of the event owners, Athletics New Zealand, all of the above were presented at the Survivors Club dinner or as they crossed the finish line with their official Survivors polo shirt, which is embroidered with the club’s logo and the milestone each have reached.
Club membership stands at 638, including 78 that have joined the “elite club in the sky”.
The annual Survivors dinner was held again at the Millennium Hotel with 80 plus in attendance. 37 years survivor Roger Donnell kindly donated vouchers (Farmers, Pak N’ Save and MTA) to the value of $1,250.00 (5 x $250.00). Winners were drawn from club members in attendance at the dinner. Thank you, Roger, for this generous donation.
If you believe you could be eligible for admission to the Club in 2025, please email Pam Kenny at thekennys.nz@gmail.com or post to 3 Haratua Place, Rotorua 3015 details of the previous 14 Rotorua Marathons you have finished (times and years) and if your family name has changed, your former names(s), plus the size polo shirt you wear. This so these details can be verified against the events records. It is important that this information is advised prior to the end of March 2025, to allow time for your prestigious polo shirt to be ordered in and embroidered.
Participation in the Half Marathon, 5km, or 10km events does not count towards club membership, nor does the rained-out 1999 event. It is noted that a number of the club members are finding the challenge of the full marathon distance too much and are now participating in one of the shorter distances on offer on “marathon day.” That is, a half marathon, 10km, or 5km.
In our last mail to members, a number of postal letters and emails were returned. Should you have changed your postal address and/or your email address, please advise Pam at the email address above. Also, should you know of members that have now “gone to the elite club in the sky”, please advise – thank you