Tracks ready for active weekend

The inaugural Sandalford Winery Half Marathon and the Oceans and Vineyards Ride 101 will bring athletes together for “the day of the tread” this weekend.

The activity starts with a half- marathon through the scenic Metricup Winery on Saturday morning.

Runners and walkers will travel through vines, past dams and on a sealed road before finishing their journey in the heart of Sandalford’s Music Bowl.

The event is for people of all fitness levels, with a lengthy 21km half-marathon, or a 5km or 10km walk or run for those wanting to get involved.

The City of Busselton’s Oceans and Vineyards Ride 101 gets under way the next day with riders on four different courses from 30km to 101km, depending on rider’s personal goals. The oceans and vineyard ride starts at the Busselton Jetty and travels down the main street, before moving to vineyards from Wildwood Road, through Millbrook Estate to Yallingup Beach.

Sports Performance event manager Stephen Doyle said the ride was designed to take in local attractions. “The ride starts at the Busselton Jetty and takes you through the vineyards, along Yallingup Beach, to the lighthouse and then Dunsborough, ” he told the Times.

Mr Doyle said the ride had one point of difference.

“For anyone doing the ride, there are cut off points where they can cut sections of the course if it’s getting too much, ” he said.

The course design means organisers will need to calculate results carefully to declare the winner.

Mr Doyle said organisers would go over the courses again today.

“We went through five course designs before we came up with the final one, ” he said.

More the 200 competitors will take part in both events.

About seven traffic management officers will work on Sunday morning to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Last minute registrations for the Sandalford Half Marathon open from 7.30am tomorrow morning at the winery. Entries for the ride are now closed.