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The above photo was taken about half way around the Gold Rush Multisport event. This race totals about 375 klms, and this stage, which is the 17 klm run down the Central Otago Rail Trail, finishes at Lauder. These two have just come off the bridge over the Manuherikia River, and are a bit over two klms from Lauder. If you look, you will see they have the same number. They are in fact a tandem team. They have to kayak, bike and run for 375 klms together. And these two look so cheerful about it.
This year in Gold Rush there were 20 teams entered from various Secondary Schools in Otago and Southland. Some of them produced very good times, but the fastest was from Mt. Aspiring College from Wanaka. They were well organised, worked as a team, and were well ahead at the end.In the above photo, a young lady from one of the school teams gets near the end of the paddle on Lake Roxburgh on day one. If she looks exhausted it is no surprise. She has been on the water paddling into a head wind for about 3 hours. While the lake looks quite calm here, we were relatively sheltered. Further down the lake it was quite rough, and more than one arrived very wet. This lady knows that in about another 50 metres she can get out and hand the bib onto her cyclist team mate.It is interesting to note the different attitude schools have to this event. Some had large teams of supporters, even the Principal of one school was there, others leave it to the parents to do everything. One school issues 'Blues' to those who do well in this event.This event is very practical PE.
Gold Rush is a multi sport event held every year at about this time, based here in Alexandra. This year was the 13th held. Every year, I have been involved in either taking or printing photos for this 'marathon'. Gold Rush is the longest for distance event in New Zealand and is very popular. There is usually a waiting list to get in, and some come a long way to compete. Prizes are won by entering, but if you win you get a very nice trophy. The above photo is of Graham Sinnamon helping his team mate into a kayak. Taken about 5 minutes after the start, the kayaker has already run about 1.5k down to the river, where he is helped to get launched. He then paddles down Lake Roxburgh, usually taking a bit over two hours. Some take considerably longer.These two have done all 13 Gold Rushes, and this year their usual cyclist could not get here, so just hours before the start they were looking for anyone who could ride a bike. The one they found turned in very good times, so for the first time this team won their section, which I think was Mens Teams. I don't think they are old enough for the veterans, but I might be wrong. The determination shown by these guys over the years is really typical of the whole event. People just keep going and going, and next year they will come back so they can do it again.It is good to be involved in an event where everyone is determined to enjoy themselves. They will forget the pain.
This wedding took place at Mount Soho, a vineyard on the outskirts of Arrowtown, operated by namesakes Ed and Carol Lamont. It indeed has outstanding surroundings, but they became insignificant when these two appeared. A wedding full of surprises, and was a good example of intelligent planning. It really suited the couple, who are highly educated and motivated. Every wedding I do, I see or hear something new. This wedding was full of new things.I hope the photos did this couple justice.
The above photo was taken just before Karen and Darren's wedding at Toko Mouth. The original idea was to have the wedding on the beach, but the day just did not suit such a plan. There were many large drops of water falling from a very low sky, and the drops were very close together. Never mind, they are still married, and we turned the Toko Mouth hall into a studio after the wedding to do the formals. Traditionally, I go to where the Bride is getting dressed to start. Usually all the girls are there, and her parents, so I can get those photos done while she is 'perfect', before braving the elements. And I am always impressed by the 'togetherness' of all at this time. It seems that the Bride can do nothing without input from all there. Karen is getting her necklace on here, at the same time she gets opinion on it's suitability from her sister and the Bridesmaid. There was probably advice being given on other subjects as well, though usually I am concentrating so do not take much notice.And no one mentioned the weather again. It was not the main event.
It's not that I stand poised waiting for someone to make a mistake when photographing Fire men and women when at competitions. It's just that sometimes things don't go to the plan. The idea in the above photo is to connect both hoses to the hydraulic lifter between the feet of the fireman on the right. The man on the pump, out of sight, has put too much water in the smaller hose, before it could be connected. Though both guys pictured got soaked, the mistake cost very little time. Once both hoses are connected, the lifter is dropped into the tank, behind the right hand fireman's feet, and the pump then extracts water from the tank. I have been told that it is possible to cycle the water in the pump continuously, using only the water from the tank to put on the fire. These guys can lay and connect three hoses, extract the water and knock down a target in about 35 seconds. They are quick.
The Oamaru Volunteer Fire Brigade mascot, and wags, arrived safely at Queenstown for the United Fire Brigades National competitions recently. In the above photo, the mascot was handcuffed to Donkey, so neither could get lost. That's the theory. In this photo one of the wags has retrieved both from a young woman who had the audacity to run off with the pair. She was unceremoniously tackled and mascots retrieved. But if you look closely, another threat looms in the shape of a very fit looking member of the Queenstown Fire Brigade. Despite a good tackle, the mascots stayed in the possession of the wag. However the mascots were injured in some way, and were taken to a nearby ambulance, which did a circuit with lights flashing and siren wailing. I have not had an update of the condition of the pair.This incident, and a few others like it, were light relief in what was quite an intense contest over two days at Queenstown. Parts of seconds separated the teams as they put into practice months of training to get faster, more accurate, and more efficient. The fastest time does not always win, as penalties are dished out for not doing the 'run' exactly as the instructions say. Favourites Kaitangata incured time penalties on the first four of their events, and this put them in a position of being too far back to get close at the end. They had some amazing times though. Though many of the trophies were taken by many different teams, the overall winner was the team from Carterton. This team was good to watch as they did everything in an unhurried fashion, and I believe they incured only one time penalty during the two days. Close second was a very slick team from Silverdale. After two days photographing this contest, I feel very confident that our Volunteers are among the best, and I have every confidence they would do the right thing if asked. Don't try to put it out yourself, ring 111.
The Dunstan Golf Club at Clyde has a long history of golf and good parties. We used to live over the road from the club rooms, so we know about the parties. Anyway, over the last weekend, the Club hosted the 14th Dunstan Ladies Classic. Though the course is not a full size, the players seem to flow though it well, and everyone has a great time.In the above photo, the two winners are each side of the Club's President. And this was a bit different, in that in all the years I have been taking photos at this tournament, I can not remember two ladies on the organising committee winning. Many have been in the places, but I am sure no organiser has won it. These two were not only on the organising team, but also played the best golf. I did not stay long at the party, but I bet it went on.......
The above photo was taken about half way around the Gold Rush Multisport event. This race totals about 375 klms, and this stage, which is the 17 klm run down the Central Otago Rail Trail, finishes at Lauder. These two have just come off the bridge over the Manuherikia River, and are a bit over two klms from Lauder. 
This year in Gold Rush there were 20 teams entered from various Secondary Schools in Otago and Southland. Some of them produced very good times, but the fastest was from Mt. Aspiring College from Wanaka. They were well organised, worked as a team, and were well ahead at the end.
Gold Rush is a multi sport event held every year at about this time, based here in Alexandra. This year was the 13th held. Every year, I have been involved in either taking or printing photos for this 'marathon'. Gold Rush is the longest for distance event in New Zealand and is very popular. There is usually a waiting list to get in, and some come a long way to compete. Prizes are won by entering, but if you win you get a very nice trophy. 
This wedding took place at Mount Soho, a vineyard on the outskirts of Arrowtown, operated by namesakes Ed and Carol Lamont. It indeed has outstanding surroundings, but they became insignificant when these two appeared. A wedding full of surprises, and was a good example of intelligent planning. It really suited the couple, who are highly educated and motivated. 
The above photo was taken just before Karen and Darren's wedding at Toko Mouth. The original idea was to have the wedding on the beach, but the day just did not suit such a plan. There were many large drops of water falling from a very low sky, and the drops were very close together. Never mind, they are still married, and we turned the Toko Mouth hall into a studio after the wedding to do the formals. 
It's not that I stand poised waiting for someone to make a mistake when photographing Fire men and women when at competitions. It's just that sometimes things don't go to the plan. The idea in the above photo is to connect both hoses to the hydraulic lifter between the feet of the fireman on the right. The man on the pump, out of sight, has put too much water in the smaller hose, before it could be connected. Though both guys pictured got soaked, the mistake cost very little time. Once both hoses are connected, the lifter is dropped into the tank, behind the right hand fireman's feet, and the pump then extracts water from the tank. I have been told that it is possible to cycle the water in the pump continuously, using only the water from the tank to put on the fire. These guys can lay and connect three hoses, extract the water and knock down a target in about 35 seconds. They are quick.
The Oamaru Volunteer Fire Brigade mascot, and wags, arrived safely at Queenstown for the United Fire Brigades National competitions recently. In the above photo, the mascot was handcuffed to Donkey, so neither could get lost. That's the theory. In this photo one of the wags has retrieved both from a young woman who had the audacity to run off with the pair. She was unceremoniously tackled and mascots retrieved. But if you look closely, another threat looms in the shape of a very fit looking member of the Queenstown Fire Brigade. Despite a good tackle, the mascots stayed in the possession of the wag. However the mascots were injured in some way, and were taken to a nearby ambulance, which did a circuit with lights flashing and siren wailing. I have not had an update of the condition of the pair.
The Dunstan Golf Club at Clyde has a long history of golf and good parties. We used to live over the road from the club rooms, so we know about the parties. Anyway, over the last weekend, the Club hosted the 14th Dunstan Ladies Classic. Though the course is not a full size, the players seem to flow though it well, and everyone has a great time.
