The Southland Tribune; Edition #15
67 Esk St's rebirth... The memories, facade remain/Bellew: 'Racing not a North Island product, it’s a New Zealand product'/Leusogi-Ape back for Sharks in 2023 NBL
67 Esk St's rebirth... The memories and facade remain
Bellew: 'Racing not a North Island product, it’s a New Zealand product'
Leusogi-Ape back for Sharks in 2023 NBL
Today’s Poll…. If the election was today, which party would you vote for?
Why Southland is a gem…. Reason #15 (Easten Southland Art gallery)
Out & About…. Milford Mountain Classic
Plus, Tribune Shoutout, Stories Elsewhere, our Quick Quiz and more
67 Esk St's rebirth... The memories and facade remain
The demolition and rebuild at 67 Esk St is a marker of a brighter future for Invercargill’s city centre, although the memories and the facade remain. (READ MORE HERE).
Bellew: 'Racing is not a North Island product, it’s a New Zealand product'
The Southland Racing Club will host its first-ever $100,000 race, the Southland Guineas, on Saturday at Ascot Park in Invercargill. The club’s president hopes national racing figures will take notice. (READ MORE HERE).
Leusogi-Ape back for Sharks in 2023 NBL
The Southland Sharks have added one of the Sal’s NBL’s brightest prospects to its 2023 roster with the announcement Dru-Leo Leusogi-Ape will return for a second season in the south. (READ MORE HERE).
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Quick Quiz….
1. Who is the chairperson for the Bluff Community Board?
2. Who is the Invercargill-based radio presenter on Celebrity Treasure Island?
3. What was the name of the now demolished pub/nightclub situated by Reading Cinemas in Invercargill?
4. Name the Southlander who faced the underarm ball in 1981?
5. What production is the Invercargill Musical Theatre putting on in July?
(SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR ANSWERS)
Today’s poll…
Tribune Shoutout #1….
John Agnew reckons the MLT Moonshine Trail is one of the best multi-sport events in Southland.
And he should know. Not only has he entered the MLT Moonshine Trail at least 11 times (he reckons it is probably more), he has also given most other local mountain bike events a try in the past 15 years.
Mountainbiking is his passion – each week he heads out for training rides near his home in Otatara, clocking up 30-40kms “a couple of times a week”.
At 70-years-young, he reckons it is the biking – he also does some road biking – that keeps him fit and healthy. And able to take part in events like the MLT Moonshine Trail on February 25.
This year he has signed up for the 39km mountainbike section.
“It is probably one of the best local events.” “It’s just a really good event.”
He rates the course as a good challenge for experienced mountain bikers, but reckons people just starting out would be able to give it a good shake too “as long as their fitness is up to it”.
For more information about the MLT Moonshine Trail or to register head to http://www.moonshinetrail.co.nz/
(This story was produced and provided by Active Southland)
Tribune Shoutout #2….
How about this for a bit of southern hospitality and the motorsport community looking after their own.
Just days ago, Tauranga driver Derek Cecil was faced with the prospect of loading his damaged race car onto its trailer to begin the long trek home after an incident at Levels Raceway, Timaru.
Cecil’s Ford Escort RS2000, a car with a rich history and the winner of the British Historic Rally Championship in 2014/2015, had been hit by another car and the damage meant that Derek would likely miss this weekend’s Star Insure Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga Park in Invercargill.
Cecil takes up the story. “We had driven from Tauranga to Auckland for the Elton John concert only for it to be rained out so we had to drive home again. Then, on our way south we raced at Manfeild and the car dropped a tappet.” Things got worse when Cecil learned that his daughter’s house in Tauranga had been severely damaged in a major weather event and she was left with no house, no cars, and no clothing.
Christchurch was next and Derek chose to spectate at the Skope Classic at Mike Pero Motorsport Park as well as Sprint Car racing at the adjacent Speedway before heading to Timaru.
The bad news continued. Derek admits he was distraught after the crash. “The car is a beautiful Wales Motorsport Meirion Evans FIA period correct car and it was badly damaged!” Oddly, that is where things took a turn for the better.
Derek and Christine have been humbled by the subsequent reaction. “People like Barry Leitch of Invercargill and Garry Carter of Carters Tyre Services have come forward,” Derek says.
“Barry got in touch with Paul Beattie, a panel beater in Cromwell. Paul immediately said no problem, bring it in. We have to wait four months to get anything done in the North Island,” laughs Derek. “I didn’t want a pig in a poke repair and that is not what we are getting. Garry Carter offered us a spare section at Highlands Motorsport Park to unload the car while Paul got on the phone to Deane Buist at motorsport parts provider, Palmside in Christchurch and they worked out what we needed. Meanwhile Garry and Robyn Carter invited us for dinner with his brother-in-law and sister-in-law who are also running in our class - HVRA .”
The car should be repaired midweek and then it will be off to Barry Leitch’s workshop in Invercargill. “We will get some paint on the car. I mentioned to Barry I had some carburettor problems and he said “no problem, we will sort that out as well”. “After all those incidents we now feel so good, like we have turned the corner. I’m blown away by the racing community. It is about the real people of New Zealand. After the last few years, we are still here.”
Cecil will line up in the HVRA races at the Star Insure Classic SpeedFest at Teretonga Park in Invercargill this weekend.
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Why Southland is a gem…. Reason #15
(We think it’s worth reminding ourselves why Southland is such a special place, so that’s what we’ll do regularly)
Eastern Southland Art Gallery. Nicknamed the 'Goreggenheim' by Saatchi & Saatchi boss Kevin Roberts, the Eastern Southland Gallery is a public art museum in Gore.
Established in a former Carnegie Library building, it features the internationally renowned John Money Collection, which includes paintings by Rita Angus (New Zealand), Theo Schoon (New Zealand), Lowell Nesbitt (USA), Bambarra, Dogon and Baga carvings from West Africa, and paintings and carvings from Elcho Island (Australia).
The Gallery is also home to one of the largest holdings of works by major New Zealand contemporary artist Ralph Hotere and presents a vibrant annual programme of temporary exhibitions, concerts, lectures, workshops and artist projects. (Blurb credit - southlandnz.com)
Out and About….
Milford Mountain Classic - Saturday, February 18
The hardy souls who saddle up for the annual cycling challenge are treated to magnificent vistas of Fiordland National Park.
Resisting the urge to stop and admire the view could prove the hardest thing about racing through the world-renowned World Heritage Area. The seventh edition of the Classic is being held on Saturday or experienced riders through the wonder that is the Milford Road.
If the full 120km ride is not for you, there are two other shorter options available - the Homer Hundred, a 100km ride to Te Anau starting at the eastern end of the Homer Tunnel and the Eglington Challenge, which clocks up 65km starting from Knobs Flat. (Blurb credit - Southlandnz.com).
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In case you missed it….
Super Bowl: They say you can find a Southland connection in almost anything. Well, in terms of Super Bowl LVII, we’ve done just that. (READ MORE HERE)
Mayor’s public campaign: “I’m not prepared to sit back…. This is a hospital that needs to be fit for purpose for the next 50 years.” (READ MORE HERE)
Mediawatch: RNZ Mediawatch presenter Colin Peacock caught up with the Tribune’s Logan Savory for a segment on its weekly Sunday morning programme. Colin asked some questions that might also be on your mind as to what The Southland Tribune is all about and the challenges ahead.
Have a listen to the interview:
Quiz Answers….
Ray Fife 2. Joe Cotton 3. Frog ‘n Firkin 4. Brian McKechnie 5. Jersey Boys