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Bush and Beach back Karekare Horse Race


Bush and Beach back Karekare Horse Race


Bush and Beach back Karekare Horse Race
Support local surf club and community school

Bush and Beach have got behind Karekare’s famous beach race on February 28, resurrected after locals realized there is no better way to raise funds for the tiny community’s Surf Club and local school.

Bush and Beach runs tours through the area, and it always gets behind race day, its philosophy being to support the communities its tours visit. Managing director Ben Thornton says, “"Bush and Beach has had the privilege of showing Karekare to tourists for more than 30 years now. Our guests are always blown away by Karekare' s untouched beauty, and it is our pleasure to be able to give something back to the local community".

Both the school and surf club are grateful for the support. Though Karekare is so close to Auckland city, its residents are too few to provide the funds needed to help the Surf Club keep summer’s crowds safe, which is why they run the event.

Karekare Surf Life Saving Club treasurer and volunteer lifeguard Charles Lawson says, “Kare Kare race day is primarily a day of fun-filled community spirit that allows all those good people who are part of our community to get together for a common goal and to share our wee paradise with the community at large. But most importantly it provides us with a venue at which to raise funds to assist our Surf Life Saving club make KareKare a safe playground for one and all.”

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It’s not just about the racing though. Lone Kauri School is a satellite of Oratia School, but its premises are owned and maintained by a community trust. The kids are already enjoying new carpet paid for by the last raceday, and they’re saving for sports equipment and, more vitally in this rainy region, a new roof.

Its kids say the event is more than just a horse race. “I like race day because there’s face painting and pony rides,” says Amber Cook, aged 8, while her sister, Hazel, enjoys the kids’ competitions and the raffles, “And the race when riders have to hop on and off and do tricky tasks!”

Their parents will be selling home-cooked snacks and lunches or selling sweepstake tickets, or directing the horses that come to race.

Prize money is up this year, and those bringing horses to race are allowed to camp for the weekend, so larger fields are expected for this return to an iconic event, which almost died out until a fresh line-up of locals took on the event mantle.

They’re hoping Auckland will again get behind horse racing on Karekare Beach – they’ve even organized a shuttle from Piha Domain for any overflow parking. Look for it on facebook for more details nearer the time.


ends

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