Showgrounds operator starts the clean-up after wet Horse of the Year

Work begins to repair the ground after heavy rain during the Horse of the Year. PHOTO / WARREN BUCKLAND

High rainfall during this year's Horse of the Year show played havoc with the surfaces of the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds, leaving chopped up fields and deep, muddy trenches between grassed areas at the venue.

As the last of the packing-down got under way yesterday, showgrounds manager Brent Linn said this was to be expected when the heavens opened on the largest equestrian event in the Southern Hemisphere.

"It's an outdoor venue, and when it rains the consequence is we have a larger remediation project than when it doesn't rain - when you are holding large, outdoor events you have to factor in that one in every 10 years this might happen," Mr Linn said.

"At the moment the event manager and the A and P Society are sitting down and identifying what remediation is required, how to get everyone off the grounds safely, and how to protect the ground surface while we are doing that."

Although the area got carved up during the event, with sawdust put down in some areas and tractors towing some trucks out on Saturday, the situation looked a lot worse than it was while conditions were still wet and overcast, said Mr Linn.

"This is a magic bit of dirt - if we have two or three fine days it will enable us to remediate very quickly and work towards restoring the grounds and getting them ready for the next event."

That remediation began yesterday when contractors were briefed and staff at times carried items by hand rather than driving over sensitive areas.

He said the arena surfaces had held out surprisingly well and that a small amount of additional work would need to be done over and above what was normally planned after such large events.

"In a normal year the society undertakes a remediation programme which sees a vast majority of the showgrounds undersown and some surface cultivation done.

"This time we have some additional work over and above that."

In areas where there had been high traffic volumes more extensive surface cultivation would be needed, including to the access ways into the grounds."

Preventing such damage by creating all-weather surfaces that could cope with such one-in-10 year deluges would be a very expensive solution, he added.

In terms of costs, he said Hastings ratepayers did not contribute directly to operational funding for the showgrounds.

"The showgrounds operate from revenue that they receive from running events and managing the venue."

He said discussions were being held with the Horse of the Year (HOY) event managers to come to an agreement on the fair allocation of costs for wear and tear.

"We will sort out a solution that works for both parties."

HOY event director Dave Mee could not be reached in time to comment yesterday.