15 September 2003

Tracker dogs trail axemen and daring motorcyclists at Ambury Regional Park

Picnickers watch agog as motorcyclists perform daring acrobatic stunts at Ambury Regional Park, followed closely by a team of burly men wielding axes. Hot on their heels comes a pack of sharp-nosed German Shepherds.

No, this isn’t a police chase after a gang of armed villains. It’s just a sample of the activities visitors can see at the action-packed annual Ambury Farm Day on Sunday, 21 September.

The Ambury Farm Day is where city meets country, combining motorbike trials and performing arts with cow milking and sheep shearing. The Nutrience German Shepherd team shows how smart they are, the Puhoi and Towai Axemen’s Club battle it out with their flying blades and a team of trial bike reiders perform their acrobatics. On the main stage a down-country fiddler takes on an up-town jazz band for the best foot-stompin’ riffs. Billy Black, in an elegant wool singlet and gumboot ensemble, takes his dancing pig for a few turns, and spins a few yarns. A troupe of goofy aunties gives away laughs for free.

Ambury Regional Park is a real working farm run by the Auckland Regional Council. The Farm Day is an annual family event which regularly draws crowds of 15,000 plus, making it Auckland’s biggest farm festival.

Admission and parking is free. The Ambury Farm Day runs from 10am – 4pm at Ambury Regional park, Ambury Rd, Mangere.

To get to Ambury Regional Park take the airport motorway and follow the signs from Mangere Bridge and Coronation Road off-ramps.

ENDS

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