“...And I beat Cr Mullany and Cr Ingram,” Cr Ben Cooper gloated.

These light-hearted comments between councillors bounced around the council chambers on November 19 during their monthly meeting as they praised the success of the recent Cherry Chase.

The Cherry Chase, held at Chinaman’s Dam on November 16, attracted a field of 540 participants for the five and 10 kilometre distances.

It became a highly raised topic while councillors reported their civic duties for the month.

While Cr Mullany praised the spirit of the Chase, Cr Ingram congratulated Cr Cooper and the Young Youth Council on its success.

And Cr Stuart Freudenstein struggled to find enough adjectives to describe how great the event was.

Cr Cooper said that “volunteers came out of the woodwork for it”.

“I don’t want to hear the words cherry and chase together for at least a month,” he laughed.

He said the feedback he received was people said they were coming back with more people.

“So it’s only going to grow from there,” councillor Walker said. 

Mayor John Walker described the Chase as an “absolutely outstanding and well organised event’.

“On a rainy day I don’t think there was any lack of enthusiasm,” he said.