Doggie mayhem on the mountain: Queenstown Winter Festival

28 June 2012

Doggie mayhem on the mountain

Man’s best friend took centre stage during the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival today with the Speight’s Dog Derby and Dog Barking events kicking off day seven of the annual festival.

Thirty-three dogs and their owners took to the powder laden slopes of Coronet Peak for the annual Speight’s Dog Derby which is a huge highlight on the Winter Festival calendar.

Seventeen ‘townies’ turned up with their loyal pooches in tow in the hope of out-performing some of their country cousins in the longest running event on the festival programme which was first held back in 1976.

“This is a really popular event and has a strong following with people travelling from Gore, Lumsden, and even Mount Cook to compete,’’ Festival Director Simon Green, said.

After riding the chairlift to the top of the M1, the competitors and their dogs ran, slipped, slid, tumbled and crashed their way down the mountain to the base building with the objective of keeping their dogs at heel.

Christian Chester and pooch Mojo took line honours in the ‘townie’ division with Linden Brackstone and Deagle coming in second and Matt Cater and Leo claiming third place.

Meanwhile, the winner of the hotly contested ‘country’ division which also included the added challenge of whistling the working dogs up a steep course and back down again, was Troy MacDonald with Max. Taking out second place was Leo Hamilton with Tay and crossing the line in third were Tom Ward and Tuma.

“Dogs are man’s best friend and today the relationship between our competitors and their loyal dogs was on show for all to see,’’ Green, said.

Later in the day the dogs and their masters made their way down to Earnslaw Park in central Queenstown for the Speight’s Dog Barking competition.

Around thirty dogs and their owners, vying for the title of ‘Loudest Bark’ kept the crowds entertained; especially those which refused to make a sound.

Taking out the title of ‘Loudest Dog Bark’ was Mac and his owner Tom Ward, while Munt and his owner Leo Hamilton came in second and Sue with her owner, Nick Crowe came third. The ‘Best Dressed Dog’ went to Yuko Wakushima’s companion, Mac while the ‘Best Human Bark’ went to Henry Murray after his dog Hitch suffered from stage fright.

The festival fun continues tonight with the Speight’s Stag Roar at the Speight’s Ale House from 5pm before the popular Skyline Murder Mystery ‘Murder in the Mountains’ night at the Skyline Complex gets underway at 6pm. The Speight’s Summit Mountain Safety Avalanche Awareness Seminar will kick off at the Queenstown Memorial Hall at 7pm. Rounding out the seventh day of the programme are The World Bar’s Winter Sounds night from 8pm and SkyCity Queenstown Casino’s live act Calico from 9pm.

To see the full line up of the programme and individual event details check out the complete American Express Queenstown Winter Festival calendar online at www.winterfestival.co.nz or pick up a programme at information outlets throughout the region.

ENDS

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