Great Mystery Ride draws almost 300 riders
Mandy and Keia arriving at the finishing line. Photo: Rob Dawson.
Home-made lemonade, an ensemble of drummers, a one-man band playing plastic bottles attached to his suit, zany costumes and knock-out views combined to make last Sunday’s Great Mystery Ride a stunning success. St John Ambulance will receive over $1000 as a result.
Taking place on a never-to-be-replicated 14km cross-country track between Pohara and Motupipi, the ride attracted close to 300 participants, delighting but placing some strain on the organising committee and its supporters.
“The day before closing day, we had 89 entries and we were pretty pleased with that,” said spokesperson Annie Telford. “Then on the last day, when we got the next 180-odd, we were faced with a lot of work. It was great that so many people wanted to be part of a community-based, non-competitive event.”
Organisers had thought of everything to surprise, entertain, stimulate and encourage the happy cyclists. There was an option to take a shorter route, and the final destination—Golden Bay Wines at Motupipi—was a very festive venue. The Motupipi School fundraisers catered a delicious lunch and there were refreshments of all kinds available. Performers Levity Beet and Chloe Langley entertained the crowd and one lucky participant won a brand new bike, sponsored by Jennian Homes.
Speaking for the organisers, Mark Allinson said the event had been really driven by the enthusiasm of all the landowners. “Many of them cleared scrub and hawthorn, cut tracks and took down fences to make the course possible. It just had to happen after I’d talked to the Salmons and the Packards; they were so keen. The organising committee was a revelation too. That’s what makes it—lots of good people.
“We’ll be happy to hear any feedback, especially about suggestions for a new course for next year’s mystery ride.”
Neil Wilson
