Despite Covid restrictions the Makutoku Combined Drive on March 6-7 in and around the township, attracted 25 competitors from all over the North Island. The nature of the sport with driver, groom and horse presented no problem of social distancing and competitors travelled vast distances to be there.
The event is run by the Hawke's Bay Carriage Driving Association and the Makutoku Domain has been the favourite location for many years as it combines good facilities, great prizes and excellent terrain to test the best combinations.
One experienced driver said the Marathon finale on Sunday was one of the toughest on the calendar. Each combination travels the local roads and farm terrain, a distance of 12km, entering five venues with sets of obstacles. This is where judges time their performances, the winner being the fastest. Donna Tholen with groom Karen Walker sporting rainbow mohawks on their helmets driving Willow Park Music Man known as Leroy won the event.
On the Saturday, competitions started with dressage in the Makutoku Domain, followed after lunch with cone driving where the combinations race a slalom course like show jumping only the horse and cart must negotiate 20 sets of cones (road markers without a top, on which a tennis ball sits) without dislodging the ball.
