In pictures: Hawke’s Bay’s weekend of opening races

Hawkes Bay Today

7 Apr, 2024 04:02 AM2 mins to read

Zach Manning hits the Tūtaekurī River crossing. Photo / Connull Lang

Tom Jones graced the ears of music fans at night, but there were also plenty of events on in the daytime this weekend in Hawke’s Bay. Photographer Connull Lang was out and about capturing it.

The Napier Harrier Club made the most of the weather at the Tūtaekurī River in Taradale, with many taking on the water crossing on Saturday.

Junior club captain Roger Morrison said the weekend’s event marked the opening of the season for the club, which is in its 90th year of running.

A group of 35 competitors went head to head for the Marett Madness Trophy, which was won by the three-person team of Jade Valler, son Max Valler and Katie Lindsay.

Jade Valler and her team won the Marett Madness Trophy, made out of the steering wheel of a Ford Falcon. Photo / Connull Lang

The next event will be held next Saturday near Westshore, and events will be run every Saturday during autumn and winter.

Olivia Molloy leading Jake Coombe and Nate Armstrong in the Harriers relay race. Photo / Connull Lang

Meanwhile, on Saturday it was an emotional moment for the Hawke’s Bay Mountain Bike Club as its long-awaited Pan Pac Mountain Bike trail opened to the public out the back of Eskdale.

Joey Dunlop from Bay View testing out the new skills track at the new Pan Pac Mountain Bike Park. Photo / Connull Lang

The new trail, which can be enjoyed by club members, stretches 40km in the Waipunga Block, between Napier and Taupō on SH5, and can be reached via Esk Valley’s Waipunga Rd.