PORT HARDY—The turnout was small, but the skills were high as Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre hosted its third annual Salmon Fun Run and Walk Sunday.
Three runners braved a heavy downpour just before and during the start to participate in the 2.5-kilometre run, held as part of the centre’s celebration of B.C. Rivers Day.
Steve Holm of Port Hardy, fresh off his victory in the Frogger 15-K a week earlier in Campbell River, cross the line first in a time of 9 minutes, 15 seconds. He remains the event’s only overall winner after his third straight victory, though he downplays the distinction.
“Everyone’s a winner here,” Holm said with a smile.
This year, that was literally the case. Second place in the run — and first in the ladies division — was shared by the mother-daughter duo of Karen and Kirsten Strussi, who held hands down the final 50+ metres of trail and across the finish line to earn the tie.
They both were clocked in a time of 16:27.7, though Kristen noted she did finish just a fraction of a second ahead of her mom.
“She made me go in front at the finish,” Kirsten said. “I was holding her hand and she swung me forward when we got to the end.”
Each of the three was awarded a $25 gift certificate for the Stewardship Centre’s gift shop.
The field of participants was more than doubled when Debbie Maundrell arrived after the others had finished and brought daughters Elizabeth, Allison and Evee, as well as their two dogs and a stroller, to do the Salmon Run on their own.