The Rotary Club of Waimate is celebrating the success of The Veterinary Centre Whitehorse Big Easy. This exciting and fun day raised money for local and national charities.
This year’s Big Easy, the second ever to be held, was on Sunday 8 April 2018. The day built on the success of last year’s race, with more entries (450) than ever before. Entry fees and generous sponsorship from local businesses contributed to a tremendous sum being raised. Over $20,000 will be divided between NZ Land Search and Rescue, Kiwi Sport, Rotary Club of Waimate, Whitehorse Mountain Bike Club, Waimate School of Music, and Waimate Harriers.
Contestants compete in running, walking, or mountain biking events, or the Whitehorse Challenge: a "Bike and Run" event where teams raise money for charity, and then compete against each other to win the grand prize. Ten teams entered the challenge this year. One team member cycles the 27km mountain biking track, and the other runs 18km. Each team must raise $500 to compete in the challenge.
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“We set up a Givealittle page and then they often share that with their friends on Facebook," Whitehorse Big Easy committee chairman Ryan Luckman, a Rotarian, said.
The races include 25km, 13km, and 5km mountain bike tracks, as well as 18km, 12km, and 5km walk or run tracks. A 1.5km race for kids is on offer as well. The shorter distances ramble through rolling hills and alongside gentle streams. The longer routes climb 600m in elevation, pass the White Horse Memorial, and offer specular views of the town, countryside, and the Pacific Ocean. Many of the mountain bike tracks were brand new, and made especially for the Big Easy.
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Rotarians were involved from the beginning to the end of the event. Members of our club served on the organising committee, many competed in the competition, and many more volunteered as stewards on the day. Over 70 volunteers from the community helped out, including 10 eager members from our local Rotakids Club. Luckman said that over 500 volunteer hours were clocked up on the day.
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Did you know? The White Horse memorial was built to recognise the work done by Clydesdale horses in the agricultural development of Waimate. The White Horse was made from 1,220 concrete slabs with the head being over 2 1/2 tonne.
Did you know? Big Easy is a mountain bike term for the track up to the White Horse monument.