Willaura’s Farm to Pub handicap race will mark its 15th anniversary next month with a variety of events for all abilities.
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This year the Willaura Recreation Reserve will host a temporary pub to make sure everyone can have a drink and a meal after the race on February 24.
Heather Fleming, one of the Farm to Pub organisers, said the event was returning to the farm where it all began.
“There are options for everybody, for all ages and abilities,” she said.
“We welcome those who don’t feel they can manage the run or the walk or the ride to be at the recreation reserve because there will certainly be entertainment there.
“Light refreshments will be available and the bar will be open – it’s a pop-up pub. It’s not quite farm to pub but it’s farm to pop-up pub.”
The Willaura Memorial Swimming Pool will also be open if the weather is hot.
The recreation reserve will also host a free jumping castle, live music and a working dog jumping competition.
“That will be a bit of fun –people will be able to bring along their dogs. We haven’t had one of those in Willaura before - it’s like a high jump for dogs,” Ms Fleming said.
“There will be a raffle and the proceeds will go towards BeyondBlue and the proceeds from the other funds will go towards the Willaura Recreation Reserve.
“This is a wonderful event that people can be part of and it showcases our wonderful township.”
The Farm to Pub, like its less-famous sibling the Stawell Gift, is a handicap event.
This means that runners' starts are staggered, with the slowest expected runner receiving a head start and setting off first (known as the 'limit' runner), followed in waves of increasingly faster runners until finally the quickest expected runner departs in pursuit of the field.
Registration is now open for the event with a $15 fee, or $5 for those aged 15 years and under.
Registration closes on the day before the event with late entries for all categories will be accepted on race day at the Willaura Recreation Reserve until one hour before each event.
Late entrants may only participate as fun runners – times will not be captured and results not official.
The events range from a include a 16 kilometre run and ride starting at Old Joyce Farm to a 5km walk on a pusher-friendly sealed road.
Registrations and further information is available online at www.farmtopub.org.