Full weekend of Wairarapa events

THOUSANDS of visitors expected in Wairarapa this weekend will be spoilt for choice with everything on offer from gunfights and grapes to drag cars and giant balloons.
Masterton Mayor Bob Francis said yesterday the summer calendar had been full since Anniversary Weekend in January but this weekend was building up to be especially busy, with 10 separate events to draw the crowds.
"The weather's looking good so with a combination of events, I'm confident there will be thousands here, many of whom will be day-trippers."
And there's not much room left at the inn, with a GO Wairarapa spokeswoman saying yesterday accommodation was almost fully booked but there were "still pockets" available and she was directing people to Carterton and further out to the coast.
One Masterton man who was organising a big party on Saturday for his wife's birthday said he had tried to get a caravan, marquee, tables and chairs for hire this weekend ?V but with no luck as all had been booked.
Events started with a bang at 9am today courtesy of the Frontier and Western Shooting Sports Association with the 11th annual world championships ?V Trails End ?V being staged at the Gladstone County Shooting range
It's a three-day event and spokesman Neal Hayes said the shooting championships are the largest event of its kind in New Zealand.
Mr Hayes said it involved the use of firearms of the period 1840 to 1899, including weapons from the American western period firearms used in the early part of New Zealand's history.
He said to create the right atmosphere, period dress was essential, and many legendary gunslingers were expected at the Gladstone Complex including "Wild Bill Hick-up", "Rusty Chambers" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sunburnt Kid"
Along with the big names there would also be the enactment of famous gunfights such as Gunfight at the Gladstone County Corral plus several long-range rifle events.
The shooting range has been in existence since 1902 and is one of the country's best and last year more than 100 shooters participated, coming from all over New Zealand and several from overseas.
Mr Hayes said the opening ceremony will be on the Saturday, at 9am and among the dead-eyed dicks are expected to be the mayors of Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa and John Hayes, MP for Wairarapa.
And other events on the calendar are:
Friday
???nThe International Balloon Fiesta that took to the skies on Wednesday continues today.
?? St Patrick's Day, Before the Ball will also be held in Masterton.
Saturday
???nInternational Balloon Fiesta. Splash and dash, 7.30am, Henley Lake, and night glow at Solway Showgrounds, 6.30pm-9.15pm.
?? Motorplex Drag-racing in Masterton at Hood Aerodrome ?V fast 4s rotaries and V8 competition. Full competition meet from 10am to 4pm. Twilight drags 6pm-9pm.
?? Wairarapa Wines and Harvest Festival. The first event of its kind involving all of the wineries in the valley and offering wonderful food with the best of wines. To be held at Riverside at the Cliffs, Dakins Road from 10.30am to 5.30pm. A regional shuttle service will run to and from the festival site at the beginning and end of the day servicing the Tranz Metro train service out of Wellington and the wider Wairarapa community. Gate sales $35.
?? St Patrick's Day celebrations ?V New Zealand performer Jordan Luck with the band Luck performs in the Joxer Daly car park at 9pm. First up for the evening will be Wairarapa bands Foetal Position at 5pm and Noise Control at 6.30pm.
?? Gladstone Cliffhanger Cycle event, a 6.8km hill climb from the bottom of the Kourarau Dam Road, taking in 27 corners. Practice/fun day from 11.30-noon.
?? Shooting championships continue at Gladstone.
?? Boulevard Day in Queen Street Masterton to celebrate the International Balloon Fiesta with stalls, buskers and balloons of their own.
Sunday
?? Final day of the Balloon Fiesta. Key grab at Hood Aerodrome, 6.30am.
?? Drag racing continues from 10am at Hood Areodrome.
?? Round the Vines in Martinborough. All involved in either the 10km walk or 21km run to report in to a briefing in the square at 8.30am. Offers stunning views of the terrace edge and vineyards in the area.
?? Final day of shooting championships at Gladstone.
?? Gladstone Cliffhanger Cycle event race proper ?V King of the Cliff hanger ?V starts tomorrow at 9.30am. Gladstone Cliffhanger Cycle event.
?? Carterton Heritage parade and festival. Stalls and fun in Carrington Park with a steam train from Feilding a heritage parade, marching girls, vintage vehicles and machinery. Parade starts from Howard Booth Park at 12.30pm.
?? Tauherenikau River run quad-safe experience. A great family day with stalls of local produce, animals and entertainment for the whole family starting at the Tauherenikau Racecourse, between Featherston and Greytown.
The event is to promote safe quad-bike riding within a bike-oriented day. In case of high river levels, the event will be transferred to McLeods Martinborough Quad Bike Adventures.