Carnival events!

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 337, 29 May 1990, Page 3 (Supplement)

Carnival events!

The Queen's Birthday Weekend Carnival starting this Saturday marks the sixth birthday of the Ohakune Big Cairot and the start of the winter season.

Legend has it that the Ohakune Big Carrot was germinated in an ad studio in Wellington on Queen's Birthday Weekend. It was used in an ANZ television advertisement that year, then gifted to Ohakune. The monster was transplanted to Ohakune and erected amidst much

controversy in October 1984. This year's carnival includes a number of competitions, spectacles, entertainments and shopping specials, starting with a champagne breakfast for the Carrot's Birthday at the newly

reopened Ohakune Hotel Lounge Bar. A convoy of trucks, four wheel drive vehicles and tractors will congregate at the carrot at 12.45pm on Saturday morning and leave at 1pm to make their way up to the Junction where most of the carnival activities will take place. Some of the area's top road rigs will be on view in this convoy.

Truck Pull Trucks are invited to take part in the Caltex Truck Power Pull where the fastest truck dragging bin loads of carrots on skids will win $300 in Caltex products. Second prize is dinner for two at the Hobbit, plus a third place prize. 4WD tug-o-war Four wheel drive vehicles are invited to join in the CrossCountry Rentals 4WD tug-of-war, to be run near the railway line in Thames Street. First prize in this event is $200 with a second prize of a $70 wheel balance and alignment from Ohakune Tyres and Energy Centre and third prize is a Firestone driving jacket. This event is open to fourwheeled 4WD vehicles, with off-the-shelf tyres with a 50% rubber to gap ratio, and no chains. Tractor pull Tractors are also invited their own power pull competition, the Ohakune Hotel Tractor Pull with $200 voucher from Green Bottle first prize and second prize of $50 Elders Pastoral

voucher plus a 3rd prize, with tractors pulling from front to front. Organiser Phil Abel said competition for these top prizes interested in entering these three events can contact Phil Abel and Wholesome Foods. People tug-o-war There's also a people

tug-of-war planned for 1.30pm, with the sponsor, "The Powderkeg" of Thames Street Ohakune,, donating a keg of DB beer as first prize. Teams will be of five pullers and a caller and there is a $10 per team entry fee. To enter phone Raewyn at the Ruapehu Visitor Centre (0658) 58427.

Carrot eating The Junction Ski Shop is organising the carnival's carrot eating contest with prizes for all sorts. This event is always popular with spectators - very, very amusing if competitors take it seriously enough! Ski javelin throw Junction Ski Shop Turnpage 5