Cyclists on path and win prizes
The winners of a month-long promotion to encourage visitors to the new Te Awa River Ride extension in Waipa¯ district have collected their prizes, after their win was announced on April 1.
The winners of the two grand prizes, who each won a bicycle valued at up to $1000, donated by Cambridge local bike specialists Spoken Cycles, were Garry Knowles, who entered via the Waipa¯ Home of Champions Facebook channel, and Mathilda Maree, who entered via email.
Garry and Mathilda selected their bikes at Spoken Cycles over the past two days, each choosing to share their prize with their loved ones. Garry selected a bike both he and his wife could share, and Mathilda surprised her son with a bike.
The runners-up, who won a bike prize pack, were Santie Engelbrecht Snyman and Lesley Pearce, who entered via Waipa¯ District Council’s Facebook channel, Christiaan Filius, who entered via Te Awa River Ride’s Facebook channel, and Marion Haines, who entered via Instagram.
The Ride & Win with Waipa¯ campaign was created by council to celebrate the new shared path extension, in lieu of a grand opening which wasn’t possible due to Covid-19 red setting restrictions that were in place when the shared path opened earlier this year.
The competition began on March 1 and ended on March 31 with 251 entries from visitors across the Waikato who submitted photos of their favourite part of Te Awa River Ride.
Council’s transportation manager Bryan Hudson said he was rapt with the response to the competition.
“Our community have come out in droves to explore the shared path and we’ve had an amazing response to the competition which has been absolutely fantastic.
“We’ve also been flooded with positive feedback about the great quality of the path which our track builders are particularly pleased about and we’ve received some great suggestions for improvements that we’ve shared with our partners, Te Awa Charitable Trust.”
Spoken Cycles director Blair Taylor said he was proud to sponsor the grand prizes and have the shared path in the Cambridge community.
“It’s been great for Spoken Cycles to be a part of the celebration to open this new River Ride for our community.
“We’re so lucky to have this in our backyard to share with our supporters and visitors to Waipa.”
Sarah Ulmer, spokeswoman for Te Awa Charitable Trust, said they were thrilled to see the high patronage on the shared path since its opening.
“It’s great to see so many locals and visitors getting out to enjoy the latest Te Awa section here to open here in Cambridge and we can’t wait to finish the final section later this year when the full 65km can be experienced.”