Events

Over 800 competitors will vie for places in the 29th Anniversary race on February 11th and 12th 2011.

The Speight's Coast to Coast is the world’s premier multi-sport event. The Speight's Coast to Coast is the benchmark by which all other multi-sport events are judged, both here in New Zealand and overseas.

The Speight's Coast to Coast traverses the South Island of New Zealand from Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Over either two days (individuals or two person teams) or the one-day event (individuals only), competitors cycle 140 kms (three stages of 55km, 15 km and 70 km), run 36 km (including a 33 km mountain stage that crosses the Southern Alps) and kayak 67kms of the grade two Waimakariri River through the Grand Canyon of New Zealand, the Waimakariri Gorge.

And after all this they still have the energy to crack open a very well deserved Speight's – New Zealand’s finest beer.

Plenty to look forward to at 2011 Ellerslie International Flower Show

It definitely feels like spring is finally in the air and that means that
summer and Ellerslie are now only months away!

Despite the Canterbury earthquake, planning is on track for the
2011 Show and we’re pleased with the number of exhibitors and
sponsors who have already signed up.

The last few months have been a difficult time for Christchurch
people and the Show is a great opportunity for this city to
celebrate what a fantastic place we live in. It’s also a good chance
to show that our reputation as a Garden City is still well and truly
deserved.

Tickets are now on sale for next year’s Show and have been kept
at the same level as this year. Early Bird Any Day adult tickets are
$28 each until 14 February while tickets bought after this date will
cost $40. Children’s Early Bird tickets will cost $4 each while
tickets bought after 14 February will cost $5 each.

Tickets are available on the Ellerslie website at www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz and are also great gifts for families
or friends.

A designer we’re expecting big things from again next year is Ben
Hoyle, whose garden Pure Indulgence will feature in the Starlight
Marquee. Ben has recently returned from representing New
Zealand at the first Gardening World Cup in Japan where he
competed against nine of the world’s top international landscape
artists. Ben won a gold medal and the Peace Award, which is
unique to the World Cup, for his garden A Moment in Time.

For the first time in the Emerging Designs – Student Designer of
the Year category, visitors to the 2011 Show can expect to see
gardens designed by students who are not training to be
landscape architects because a large number of entrants are
currently studying at the Design and Arts College in Christchurch.

Landscape architecture students from Australia and the United
Kingdom have also signed up to exhibit in this category, which is
testament to Ellerslie’s reputation for giving young designers
some fantastic exposure.

At next year’s Ellerslie, they’ll be asked to design a small, low
maintenance courtyard garden where a DINKY (Double Income,
No Kids Yet) couple can relax after a long day at work with a
glass of wine. I’m sure we can expect some fierce competition.

Almost two months after the devastating earthquake, Christchurch
people and those planning to visit the city for an Ellerslie
experience have plenty to look forward to early next year.

Regards
BOB PARKER
MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH

The award winning Forrest Grape Ride is the biggest road cycling event in the South Island.

The Wildfood Festival, based at Hokitika on the South Island's West Coast is an annual celebration of unusual, interesting and innovative food.

Started by local woman Claire Bryant, the first event in 1990 also coincided with the 125th anniversary of the birth of Hokitika.

The festival has grown year on year since its inception - 1,800 people attended the inaugural event, with visitor numbers in excess of 15,000 last year.

New wild foods are included every year, as well as the old favourites such as whitebait fritters or for the more adventurous, New Zealand's very own huhu grub.

Every two years at Easter, stunning Lake Wanaka is the venue for one of the world's most spectacular air shows. 

Warbirds Over Wanaka has its roots back in 1988, when Tim Wallis, an aviation entreprenuer introduced an airshow as part of a country fair.  Over 14,000 people attended and Warbirds Over Wanaka was born.

Now, over 80,000 people make the biennial pilgrimage to be entertained by over 60 aircraft and take in the atmosphere as the lakeside town of Wanaka comes alive.

The next Warbirds will be Easter 2012

The New Zealand Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch will be held for the third time on the newly constructed Pegasus Golf Course.

The course is one of the many sporting and lifestyle attractions at Pegasus, the new town in coastal North Canterbury, which will eventually be home to 7,000 residents.

The NZ Women’s Open is set to attract top players from around the world, given its co-sanction status with the ALPG Tour.

The course offers one of the most memorable playing experiences in the country – not only due to the course’s many unique features, but also because it is surrounded by so many stunning views of the Peninsula, foothills and Southern Alps.

Pegasus Golf Course is an ideal venue to introduce an international audience to all the attractions of the Canterbury region.

The ever-popular ASB Classical Sparks returns for another round of music, entertainment and fireworks, guaranteed to lift your spirits on a warm summer’s evening.

The extraordinary Christchurch Symphony Orchestra takes the stage from 8pm following performances by the talented Linwood College Orchestra from 6.45 to 7.15pm.

A musical kaleidoscope of top musicians, singers, dancers and artists will be guided by the baton of inspirational conductor Kenneth Young. Adding a truly international flavour will be opera singers Virgilio Marino and Jud Arthur.

Be ready for many added surprises which will make the evening a special family occasion. For those in a generous mood, keep an eye out for St John collectors – ASB’s chosen charity.

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra will perform popular classics by Bizet, Verdi and Mozart, along with modern compositions to ensure variety that appeals to the whole family.

For a fabulous finale, the orchestra will perform Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries – providing the soundtrack to a brilliant fireworks display.

Performers Include:

• Linwood College Orchestra

• Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

• Christchurch City Choir

• Woolston Brass Band

• Anna Hawkins

• Rachael Doig

• Graham Wardrop

• Jud Arthur

• Virgilio Marino

• Fiona Pears

Postponed to Monday 6 February if wet.

The International Track Meet is New Zealand’s best track and field meet showcasing our Kiwi sporting heroes like Nick Willis, Nikki Hamblin and Valerie Adams, along with an array of international athletes from Australia, USA, UK and the Pacific Islands. It is a rare chance to see our Commonwealth and Olympic representatives compete at home against top-class opposition.

The meet sets out to inspire our next generation of champions with Children’s and Secondary School relays incorporated into the action-packed programme. This year, the local schools will receive challenges from around the country and even Australia. The relays are always a crowd favourite! Make sure you are there to support your school.

In 2012, the event will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Sir Peter Snell’s world record over 800m and 880yds, set on 3 February 1962 on grass at the then Lancaster Park. Fifty years later, Snell’s time remains as the NZ record over 800m. A Charity dinner will be held on Friday 3 February to commemorate this milestone.

For those wanting to learn the core skills of the sport (run, jump, throw and fundamental movement), whether to help with athletics or any other sport, leading coaching seminars will be held on Sunday 5 February.

Find out more at internationaltrackmeet.co.nz.

THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER are coming to The Court Theatre in a magical adaptationof the classic fairytale; the first children’s show in The Court’s new Addington theatre.

Director Elsie Edgerton-Till describes THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER as “a show filledwith heaps of fun, and magical in lots of ways. There’s the magic of the elves, mixed withthe magic of theatre, with singing and dancing (and maybe a little juggling) thrown in for good measure.”

THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER runs from 18 – 28 January, with shows at 11am and 1pm

Speed, summits and scenery combine to ensure that the iconic Le Race continues to be New Zealand’s premiere hill cycling event. Starting in Christchurch, entrants tackle 100km of fast flats, challenging hill climbs and exhilarating down hills as they head to the French surrounds of Akaroa on the picturesque Banks Peninsula.

Le Race attracts a wide range of cyclists, from top national competitors to recreational cyclists of varying abilities. All entrants are welcome – regardless of whether you ride a road bike, mountain bike or even a tandem. Enter as an individual or as a two or three-person team.

Le Race’s appeal continues to extend beyond Canterbury, with an increasing number of North Islanders and Australians entering and returning to race in the event. The course is challenging, so if you’re going to enter it’s a good idea to start training now. For many, race day is the culmination of months of disciplined cycling, often with other ‘Le Racers’ and this culture contributes to its popularity. For training tips, visit our website lerace.co.nz where you’ll also find further event information, photographs and entry details.

Enter online now for the 14th Annual Le Race!