First day of winter festival goes to the dogs
Excited dogs and their confused owners barrelled down Coronet Peak skifield on the opening day of the 43rd Queenstown Winter Festival.
Heralded as the southern hemisphere’s largest celebration of winter, the festival is an excuse to party for locals and a proclamation to the world that Queenstown is open for winter snow and fun.
The Monteith’s dog derby at Coronet Peak is one of the festival’s favourite and oldest events and has been promoted to opening day status as a new four-day programme is introduced, reduced from 10 days in previous years.
The event is split into town and country entrants, with hundreds of dog owners and their canine companions racing down the skifield into chaos at the bottom.
Remarkables skifield patroller Brad Saville and pet Cliff were the winners of the townies section..
After a second place last year, Saville was stoked to take the win and would give Cliff a special treat for his efforts.
More than 100 farm dogs and owners entered the country category and had the additional challenge of calling their dogs through gates after the downhill run.
Farmer Jacob Mackie, of Te Anau, and one of his eight dogs, Rev, 5, crossed the finish line first. His secret to winning was getting downhill before all the other farmers start whistling.
Many then relocated from the moun- tain to Queenstown central for a dog barking competition in the middle of town.
Sergeant Mark Gill, of Queenstown, said there was a liquor ban in the central business district from 6am yesterday until 6am on Monday while the Winter Festival was on.
There would also be increased police visibility with a focus on drink-driving.
‘‘We will have extra police on the road over the next four days.
‘‘There is going to be increased traffic with people coming into town so we are hoping people will drive to the conditions and take time and be courteous. If people are drinking, they should make alternative arrangements to get home because we will be out there.
‘‘Drink-driving is a problem for all of us in the community and we need to do everything we can to keep family and friends safe.’’
The festival continues today with a business lunch, dodgeball championship, fireworks and outdoor party, ice hockey and a comedy performance.
More information can be found at winterfestival.co.nz.