Waihi Leader: Good as gold for lead racer

COOL HEAD: Waihi police (Harley North) looks like he is out for a Sunday drive while behind the Waihi Fire Brigade and Waihi St John trolley connect and mayhem results. All part of the fun at the Gold Fest Trolley Derby on Saturday. PHOTO: BAY TECHNOLOGY

The Waihi Trolley Derby took over the streets last Saturday afternoon, when the competitors raced from the top of Haszard Street, down the hill and around the roundabout into Seddon Street.

"It was a fun day and we had a great crowd," Go Waihi co-ordinator Brain Gentil said. He said there were entries from all around the North Island, although some competitors missed out after the Trolley Derby was postponed a week because of the bad weather, but they were still happy with the turn out.

"I would say we had three or four thousand people there, throughout the day," he said.

The day was "designed for participation" and even though they gave prizes to the fastest they also celebrated the slowest, and the most determined.

"We had prizes like toys, tools, games, t-shirts, lots of games, and science experiments," he said.

Some people got prizes for unusual things, one person got a prize because their birthday was the next day, the police got one for not having a warrant on their trolley, and being on the phone while driving.

"Gold Fest, rule number one 'have fun'," said Mr Gentil.

The racing had a few safety rules to keep both the crowd and competitors safe, including helmets for the riders and safety fences and bales of hay around the edge of the race course to keep trolleys and people separate.

"There were a few crashes but every single one I saw got up and either pulled their trolley to the side because it was broken, or jumped back and finished the race," he said.

Emergency services were on stand-by, and they also had a fair number of their people taking part in the racing with the competition between police, fire and ambulance an ongoing battle. Each year the competition between the emergency services appears to get greater and greater and this year was no exception.

"They go for it, but it ended up a draw, but I'm sure the police, fire and St Johns will decide their own winner," Mr Gentil said.

He said since he started organising the trolley derby seven years ago they have been updating their safety rules regularly.

"The first year we only had some 'do not pass' tape, ... now we have safety fences, which let the younger kids watching the racing get right up close, and it encourages them to take part."

Results:
Junior boys - Riley Dixon age: 7
Intermediate boys - Bryce Carter age: 11
Open class - Connor Wilmshurst
Skateboard - Easton Owen-West
Emergency services - Draw
¦More photographs of the Trolley Derby on page 4.