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Participants in the Great K Valley Cycle Adventure on Sunday are still in high spirits after biking through the scenic Kopurererua Valley. The event, which was not a race but an adventure, involved deciphering clues and completing tasks for the chance to win prizes and vouchers.
“It was a real family day,” says Kathy Webb, a member of the Tauranga Sunrise Rotary club. “Everyone was really happy.” The event ran from 10am to 2pm, with teams of up to six people following clues along a 10km or 25km trail through the valley.
One of the new additions to this year’s adventure was ‘Swampy’, a well-known local resident dressed in a camouflage suit. Participants had to find Swampy, take a selfie with him, and guess his identity for extra points. It was later revealed that Swampy was none other than former Tauranga mayor Greg Brownless.
The event also included various challenges, such as catching thrown eggs and seeing how many team members could stand on a piece of paper. Over 40 teams participated in the event, which was similar in size to the previous year.
The Morris family won first place in the 25km course with 70 points, followed by Kiri Gillespie’s team with 69 points, and Christina Browne’s team with 66 points.
Funds raised from the event will go to the Graeme Dingle Foundation, a charity that works with over 27,000 children and teenagers throughout New Zealand. The foundation’s Western Bay of Plenty manager, Dan Allen-Gordon, brought along apparel from the All Blacks, Black Ferns and Māori All Blacks as spot prizes.
The event was a great opportunity for families and teams of friends to create cherished memories and enjoy spending time outdoors.
