'95 Cycle carnival planned

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 560, 1 November 1994, Page 1

'95 Cycle carnival planned

A cycling carnival for Ohakune is on the calendar for March 1995. The Wanganui Road Cycling Club is organising another Round Ruapehu Classic Cycle Race for 25 March next year, with support from local schools, service clubs and Mainstreet sought to make the event a weekend-long fun and fundraising carnival. At a meeting last Friday, club representative Warrick Funnell spoke to representatives of the various groups, outlining what the club had in mind and seeking suggestions for community involvement. He said the Round Ruapehu Race is now on the New Zealand race calendar and will be one of the top five single stage races in the country. Top riders will take part hoping to gain valuable circuit points. Support for the race was already offered again from the Ohakune Hotel and Green Bottle, he said. "My agenda is to get the event covered by television, maybe not next year but the year after." Riders love it He said competitive riders "love this race", with its interesting and challenging terrain and climate. To gain more community support and local interest, he said he sought the groups' involvement. A carnival and fun ride organised by the Ohakune Primary School (with help from the cycle club) would not only raise the profile of the event, but would also raise funds for the school. The carnival/gala was important to keep interest going, he said. "Unless you're in it, cycle racing is pretty boring, so we need something for people to do while the racers are away — about four hours." From the meeting a likely programme would include roller racing in the Ohakune Hotel on the Friday night (a successful part of previous ride events in the town). A breakfast with jazz band on the pavement outside the hotel on the Saturday morning would set the carnival atmosphere. The race would start at 10.00am, followed by a novice racer' s ride, around the Ohakune-Raetihi-Tohunga Road triangle. Shortly after this a 40km fun ride would set off, taking in the triangle plus Lakes Road. It was also suggested that the roller racing, involving locals rather than the competitive riders, continue on the Saturday. The carnival would be held in the vacant area opposite the hotel in Clyde Street, it was suggested. Mr Funnell cited the Grafton to Inverell race in Australia as the kind of event they were aiming for. Support for the idea came from the representatives of Ohakune Primary School, Ruapehu College, the Ohakune Volun- q teer Fire Brigade, the Lions Club, Mainstreet, and the retailer's groupAll said they would 0 report back to their respective groups.