BEAUTIFUL Hat Head is a family kinda place, and that shone through for the running of the 49th Hat Head Trig on Boxing Day.
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Among the fastest across the camp ground, splashing through the creek and bashing through the bush to a mountain top - and then all the way back - were the Fletcher family from Kempsey.
Youngster Tom Fletcher was was the snappiest boy in the junior race - screeching across the finish line in 14 minutes and 10 seconds (14:10).
Tom's dad, Peter, took line honours in the senior men to stop the clock at 15:09, while mum Wendy Olden made it a trifecta in the senior women to win in 17:49.
A brother and sister also featured in the podium finishes.
Keelan Brien was the second fastest boy in 14:18, while sis Nakirra was the first girl back to the tent in 19:16.
Many who set sail in the junior race at 9am, backed up an hour later to run the senior - and just for fun too, as there's a stipulation that youngsters who trophy in the first event can't also collect in the open field.
It's a bit of "Rafferty's Rules", quipped Margaret Meier, chairperson of the board of directors of Hat Head Rec Club who put on the races.
The concept for the day was schemed up over a beer in the club way back, as locals wagered how long it would take to run from the pub to the top of the mountain and back.
Many a good idea (and a few not so) can grow from a beverage shared - and the 'specialness' of the Hat Head Trig is what stands it apart and through the test of time.
There's nothing else like it.
Margaret said the drought and the bushfires had probably curbed this year's fields.
"The men's and the women's numbers were a bit down compared to last year and the juniors were on a par. But we're hoping for really good numbers for our 50th next year," she told the Argus.
"I'd like to really thank all of the volunteers here today because without them we would not have had an event.
For the record, 73 sprang from the blocks in the junior race, while in the open there were 46 men and 24 women.
Clubperson of the Year went to Ken Buckley of Hat Head.
Junior boys: 1st Tom Fletcher (14:10), 2nd Keelan Brien (14:18)
Junior girls: 1st Nakirra Brien (19:16), 2nd Eilish Ferguson (20:20)
Open men: 1st Peter Fletcher (15:09), 2nd Dylan Cameron (16:01)
Open women: 1st Wendy Olden (17:49), 2nd Chloe Saunders (18:11).
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