Doggie mayhem on the mountain

Press release from American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

Doggie mayhem on the mountain

1 July 2010

Today (1 July) saw ninety dogs and their owners descend upon Coronet Peak for the annual Speight’s Dog Derby, a huge highlight of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival calendar.
The Dog Derby is the longest running event on the calendar, having first featured in 1976, and has been a festival favourite ever since. A healthy crowd of skiers, boarders and avid Dog Derby followers packed the deck in front of Coronet Peak’s base building to enjoy the spectacle.

Thirty five ‘townies’ turned up with their pooches to contest the challenging course, first by riding up the Express Chair and then descending down the M1 run to the finish line to claim the prize for first down the hill. Their objective was for their dogs to stay at heel as they descend the mountain the fastest way they could, which included running, falling, sliding face first or on their bottoms. Chris Kent with Burt was the winner of the ‘Townie’ division, with second place-getter Steve Farquharson and Max hot on their heels and and Linden Brackstone with Deagle coming third. All three walked away with a highly-coveted Speight’s prize pack.

With the ‘townies’ safely out of the way, the country boys and girls took to the mountain and sped down the course toward the base building with faithful working hounds in tow. For them the challenge didn’t end there – they had to whistle the dogs up a steep course of 50m and then back down to cross the finish line.

True to tradition, mayhem ensued with confusion, barking, shouting and a fair bit of colourful language as dogs and owners sought each other out to claim the mantle of this year’s winner.
First place in the Country division went to Troy MacDonald and Max, second place to James McKee and Jake and third Dan Murry and Rip. The first place getters walked away with a Speight’s Camo Bag full of goodies and a side of Mutton (for the dog) and second and third places received a Speight’s Camo Bag.

Festival director Simon Green said he was “delighted” that the crowds came out in force up at Coronet Peak.
“The Dog Derby’s always a massive hit with locals and visitors. Hats off to the competitors who all took part.”

Mr Green announced that entry fees totalling $750 will this year be gifted to the SPCA.
 

Later in the day, Queenstown’s downtown Village Green was the ‘stage’ for 53 dogs and their owners vying for the mantle of ‘the loudest one of all’ in the Speight’s Dog Barking competition. The winner of the ‘Townie’ section was Mel Haier and Trigger and the best from the ‘Country’ section went to John Broughton and Mason. There were prizes for ‘Loudest Bark’ Emilie and Kip, ‘Best Human Bark Jeremy Hindz ande Ben and a special award went to Sarah Fo and Emma for Best Dressed.
 

The fun continues in downtown Queenstown tomorrow with the Air New Zealand Holidays Invitational Rail Jam at Earnslaw Park from 6pm and the Lindauer Jazz Night on 3 July.
 

The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival runs from 25 June to 4 July 2010. For more information or for a programme please phone 0800 FESTIVAL (03 441 2453) or visit the Festival website www.winterfestival.co.nz.
 

ENDS
 

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