Hall named
Cambridge Town Hall has been named one of three finalists in the Entertainment Venues Association’s small venue of the year (under 1000 seats) awards. The Town Hall is up against the Globe Theatre (Palmerston North) and the Turner Centre (Kerikeri).
General manager Simon Brew is also a finalist in the Team Leader of the Year award. The winners will be announced on December 4.
Town Hall general manager Simon Brew on the steps of the Victorian Room.
Work to start
Construction is about to start on turning the Hamilton Rd and Grey St intersection in Cambridge into a full cul-de-sac. It will create a safe path for people walking and cycling and eliminate through traffic from Grey Street on to Hamilton Road, reducing the number of vehicles in the neighbourhood. Construction is expected to be finished by the end of January, in time for the new school year.
Sting in the tail
Mahrajaan’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) preparation hit a snag last week.
Kiwi Melbourne Cup hope Mahrajaan missed Friday night’s Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) after suffering an insect bite at his Warrnambool base but Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie is confident he will be right for the Melbourne Cup next week (November 5).
Mahrajaan, assured of a start in the Melbourne Cup if connections opt to run, finished 13th in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield, although Ritchie was forgiving of his charge in his first run for five weeks.
Karapiro fundraiser
A Spring Fling for Starship fundraiser held at Lake Karāpiro on the weekend – inspired by children on Ward 27, the hospital’s blood and cancer ward – has helped boost the fund to more than $285,000. The goal was to reach $100,000 and was spearheaded by Jackson and Izzy Willison whose daughter Fleur was diagnosed with cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia B cell and is receiving treatment at the Auckland children’s hospital.
- The story has been updated to reflect the increase in the final fundraising amount.
New playground
Bridleways Estate playground
A new $3.7 million destination playground in Cambridge’s Bridleways Estate is nearing completion and expected to open early next year. Developer 3Ms contributed $1 million while developer contributions funded the rest. The playground includes an in-ground trampoline, flying fox, a custom-built tower and an accessible carousel alongside more traditional play elements such as swings, sandpits and a basketball court. There are also features for musical and water play.
Light show
Cambridge folk who might not want to mark Halloween on October 31 can find their fun at the Raleigh St Christian Centre’s annual Light Show. There will be a raft of activities under the theme BarnYard, including bouncy inflatables, a petting zoo and pony rides, games, sweets and refreshments and a safe under-fives area for the toddlers.
World champs
Ally Wollaston (New Zealand) receiving the gold medal and becoming world champion. Photo: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Cambridge cycling star Ally Wollaston won two gold medals at the world track championships in Denmark at the weekend. The 23-year-old became the first New Zealand rider to win two titles at the same world track championships. Auckland’s Bryony Botha claimed bronze in the individual pursuit.
Fair celebration
Tamahere’s monthly country market celebrated its 20th anniversary last Saturday. The market, on the grounds of St Stephen’s church is organised by parishioner Jane Manson.
Blues winners
Devon Briggs receives his trophy from deputy vice-chancellor Prof Alister Jones. Photo: Supplied.
Cambridge athletes, paralympian Devon Briggs and Olympic gold medal winner Ellesse Andrews were named Waikato University’s sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the annual Blues Awards earlier this month. The awards were first presented in 1971. Several other university students from Waipā received blues – given for both sport and creative endeavours.
Pipped at post
Cambridge ex pat golfer James Gill, right, with his American opponent DJ Lantz who he beat 1 up but the International team lost 15-17. Photo: Supplied
Ex-pat Cambridge golfer James Gill won his singles on the final hole at the Bridges Cup mid-amateur tournament in South Korea last week but it was not enough as his International team lost 17-15 to the United States. The Ryder Cup-like three-day competition for male amateur golfers 25 years and over comprises four balls, foursomes and singles at the private Haesley Nine Bridges course in Yeoju, about 70kms southeast of Seoul.
Write on
Taken for a Ride by
Fred Cockram
Two authors with different stories have been in touch with The News in the last week with notes about their new books.
Fred Cockram’s latest literary effort, Taken for a Ride, is a light crime thriller incorporating aspects of Stockholm Syndrome and quite a lot of Murphy’s Law. It is published as an eBook. Cockram worked for many years in the Parliamentary press gallery and is now based in Cambridge.
Peter Elderkin also pitched his book, Sugar Gravy Pleasure, a paperback set in Peterborough, England, and the alternative music world of the 1990s and 2000s to The News. Given the website he referred us to was a book shop based in the United Kingdom we figured he was the latest person on the other side of the planet to get his Cambridges mixed up. But there was a twist.
Elderkin responded that he lives in Auckland, his wife grew up in Hamilton and his in laws live in Kihikihi – and by coincidence, his book will be released in New Zealand in November.
Works reach milestone
Cranes installing the underpass units.
Two huge cranes were in action yesterday as the roundabout development on Cambridge Road near the Velodrome reached another milestone. The cranes installed 16 pre-cast underpass units under the new roundabout, which will help connect Cambridge’s growth areas with the rest of the town and provide safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. Work on developing the roundabout is expected to be completed by September next year.
