Riding with Ant down the luge track at Auckland Luge during the recent club run.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Auckland Luge Video
Riding with Ant down the luge track at Auckland Luge during the recent club run.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
A Country Run
On a lovely spring day the club did its September run, devised by John and Bob to areas south of Auckland that had seen fighting in the Maori Wars.
The run took us into Drury to St. Johns Anglican Church 1862 where women and children took shelter while soldiers protected them. This church was built on land set aside by Bishop Selwyn.
There is a monument at the rear erected by officers and men of the 1st Waikato Regiment, which was mainly recruited in Melbourne.
From there we proceeded south to Runciman to the Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church which is on a high position to give a good view of the area. It was built in 862 of Totora and Rimu on
the edge of a volcanic crater, and was the scene of a violent battle 14th Sept 1863 between the Kingite Maoris and seventeen men who held the position until help arrived from Ramarama and Drury. There were many Maori casualties, six of them are buried near the church there is a large stone memorial in the church grounds, but there were a lot more taken away, at one stage during the battle a Kereru flew on to the roof and stayed there awhile. There were no European casualties even though the stockade was not finished as well as the defenders would have liked and the Native Bush came up too close to the church.
From there we went down Harrisville Road through Tuakau to Alexandra Redoubt Road tom the Cemetery at the end of Alexandra Redoubt Road. This cemetery is named after King Edwards VII wife and has a lot of restored fortification for the Maori wars visible and one and possibly 2 VC winners buried here. It was built in July 1863 by part of the 65 regiment it is on a hill 300 feet above the river. In the cemetery there is a large monument to the British soldiers who died in the district in battle it was erected in 1915 by the NZ Government.
The next stop was the Queens redoubt in Pokeno there is not much to see here there is a wall and not much else but it was the headquarters for the British invasion in the Waikato it was
finished in 1862. It was a very large fort it was never attacked, the first advance into the Waikato took place on 12th July 1863 from here place as the war moved south the troops reduced and the buildings sold off by 1864 the area around the Fort was for sale. The site is having work done to make it a Major Historical Place.
From there we proceeded south along the southern Express way to just south of Mercer to the Whangamarino Redoubt which was situated on top of a very steep hill just above the Waikato River where they had two 40 pound Armstrong Siege Guns which came up the river on the Pioneer a paddle steamer. Installed to shell the Maori settlement near where Meremere is now. The guns had come from Sydney on the ”Curacoa”. This was a ship designed to be used in shallow waters, the iron turrets on the deck contained guns one of these turrets now stands at Mercer as the lower part of the 1914-18 soldiers memorial.
From there we went for a drive around Meremere exiting at the rear and driving parallel to the SH1 so we could have a good look over the new race track being built there (Hampton Downs) on the old swampy ground. By devious means we ended up at Rangiriri where there was a question relating to sailors and their ships, there were a lot of ships on the river at the time.
After Lunch we made our way over the river to the Glen Murray Road, then by Churchill Road right through to Pukekawa. We then made our way back to the river and once across the bridge
turned towards Tuakau then we followed basically the same route back to Pokeno that we had used in the morning. Where those that wanted to had refreshments, went to the market, ate ice cream or bought some very expensive Pokeno Bacon, before making there own way home. Pokeno is a town that has reinvented its self since the highway bypassed it very successfully
its always crowded.
Thanks to the organizers.
The run took us into Drury to St. Johns Anglican Church 1862 where women and children took shelter while soldiers protected them. This church was built on land set aside by Bishop Selwyn.
There is a monument at the rear erected by officers and men of the 1st Waikato Regiment, which was mainly recruited in Melbourne.
From there we proceeded south to Runciman to the Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church which is on a high position to give a good view of the area. It was built in 862 of Totora and Rimu on
the edge of a volcanic crater, and was the scene of a violent battle 14th Sept 1863 between the Kingite Maoris and seventeen men who held the position until help arrived from Ramarama and Drury. There were many Maori casualties, six of them are buried near the church there is a large stone memorial in the church grounds, but there were a lot more taken away, at one stage during the battle a Kereru flew on to the roof and stayed there awhile. There were no European casualties even though the stockade was not finished as well as the defenders would have liked and the Native Bush came up too close to the church.
From there we went down Harrisville Road through Tuakau to Alexandra Redoubt Road tom the Cemetery at the end of Alexandra Redoubt Road. This cemetery is named after King Edwards VII wife and has a lot of restored fortification for the Maori wars visible and one and possibly 2 VC winners buried here. It was built in July 1863 by part of the 65 regiment it is on a hill 300 feet above the river. In the cemetery there is a large monument to the British soldiers who died in the district in battle it was erected in 1915 by the NZ Government.
The next stop was the Queens redoubt in Pokeno there is not much to see here there is a wall and not much else but it was the headquarters for the British invasion in the Waikato it was
finished in 1862. It was a very large fort it was never attacked, the first advance into the Waikato took place on 12th July 1863 from here place as the war moved south the troops reduced and the buildings sold off by 1864 the area around the Fort was for sale. The site is having work done to make it a Major Historical Place.
From there we proceeded south along the southern Express way to just south of Mercer to the Whangamarino Redoubt which was situated on top of a very steep hill just above the Waikato River where they had two 40 pound Armstrong Siege Guns which came up the river on the Pioneer a paddle steamer. Installed to shell the Maori settlement near where Meremere is now. The guns had come from Sydney on the ”Curacoa”. This was a ship designed to be used in shallow waters, the iron turrets on the deck contained guns one of these turrets now stands at Mercer as the lower part of the 1914-18 soldiers memorial.
From there we went for a drive around Meremere exiting at the rear and driving parallel to the SH1 so we could have a good look over the new race track being built there (Hampton Downs) on the old swampy ground. By devious means we ended up at Rangiriri where there was a question relating to sailors and their ships, there were a lot of ships on the river at the time.
After Lunch we made our way over the river to the Glen Murray Road, then by Churchill Road right through to Pukekawa. We then made our way back to the river and once across the bridge
turned towards Tuakau then we followed basically the same route back to Pokeno that we had used in the morning. Where those that wanted to had refreshments, went to the market, ate ice cream or bought some very expensive Pokeno Bacon, before making there own way home. Pokeno is a town that has reinvented its self since the highway bypassed it very successfully
its always crowded.
Thanks to the organizers.
Saturday, 19 September 2009
AGM & Property Report
First, thanks to those members who turned up to the AGM last month. After a presentation from Bob and Chris, and a question and answer session; the resolution to purchase a property previously inspected by the committee at Kellow Place (or one similar, if this one became unavailable) to replace the current club property was passed unanimously.
The passing of this resolution was welcomed by the committee, as much work had been placed into researching the various properties available, and the costs associated with owning said properties. This included almost an entire day touring Auckland and visiting various industrial units that had been short-listed by Paul and Chris. Let me tell you that there is a wide, wide range of units of varying states available. The unit at Kellow Place is quite
a find, and fits all the criteria the committee were looking for.
Since the AGM, the committee has placed an offer on the Kellow Place property, and we are awaiting a response to that offer. Additionally, we are going through the process to list the club's current property with a local real estate agent, and by the time you read this it should be listed.
The passing of this resolution was welcomed by the committee, as much work had been placed into researching the various properties available, and the costs associated with owning said properties. This included almost an entire day touring Auckland and visiting various industrial units that had been short-listed by Paul and Chris. Let me tell you that there is a wide, wide range of units of varying states available. The unit at Kellow Place is quite
a find, and fits all the criteria the committee were looking for.
Since the AGM, the committee has placed an offer on the Kellow Place property, and we are awaiting a response to that offer. Additionally, we are going through the process to list the club's current property with a local real estate agent, and by the time you read this it should be listed.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
John and Jan's June Run
The forecast was for isolated showers but nobody told the rain it poured all the Saturday night and in the morning as we made our way down the Southern Motorway to the R.S.A. in Papakura, where the run was commencing from. The very large car park had a lake in the middle.
No sign of the organizer (may be its been called off) however there is a car there already and gradually more and more appear until Harvey and Val, Bob and Gwen, Chris, Stephen with his father, these people arrive in their club cars, then Brian and Bev, Thelma and Bud, Janice, with moderns plus the organizer John arrived in his club car. Later on Caroline and two flat mates join in a very good turn out considering the weather.
We drove off following the instruction sheet across the Motorway bridge, past Wrightsons Bloodstock sale yard complex, towards Clarks Beach following instructions we went down various side roads, up very scenic hills which looked out towards Pukekohe until we arrived at Patamahohe. From there we made our way gradually crossing railway lines etc, to just outside Waiuku, where we drove down a side street to Mr. Sharman’s property.
Once parked we made our way to his home where he has an area set up with tables to entertain clubs etc, he put on some very welcome coffee and tea for the group and we also ate our lunch’s which most had brought with them before we all made our way to the first shed which housed the model steam train engine and tender and two very large steam traction engines. Mr. Sharman gave a very informative talk about the model train engine and the traction engines. Then we went to another shed which had some seven beautifully restored cars and were told the history’s surrounding them. After everyone had looked at all the things on display and the numerous posters on the walls, everyone went back for another cup of tea etc, before we all departed our separate way.
No sign of the organizer (may be its been called off) however there is a car there already and gradually more and more appear until Harvey and Val, Bob and Gwen, Chris, Stephen with his father, these people arrive in their club cars, then Brian and Bev, Thelma and Bud, Janice, with moderns plus the organizer John arrived in his club car. Later on Caroline and two flat mates join in a very good turn out considering the weather.
We drove off following the instruction sheet across the Motorway bridge, past Wrightsons Bloodstock sale yard complex, towards Clarks Beach following instructions we went down various side roads, up very scenic hills which looked out towards Pukekohe until we arrived at Patamahohe. From there we made our way gradually crossing railway lines etc, to just outside Waiuku, where we drove down a side street to Mr. Sharman’s property.
Once parked we made our way to his home where he has an area set up with tables to entertain clubs etc, he put on some very welcome coffee and tea for the group and we also ate our lunch’s which most had brought with them before we all made our way to the first shed which housed the model steam train engine and tender and two very large steam traction engines. Mr. Sharman gave a very informative talk about the model train engine and the traction engines. Then we went to another shed which had some seven beautifully restored cars and were told the history’s surrounding them. After everyone had looked at all the things on display and the numerous posters on the walls, everyone went back for another cup of tea etc, before we all departed our separate way.
Sunday, 31 May 2009
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