Kerikeri Pickleball team members Paul Cubitt, Joanie Irissarri, Barbara Webb, Sukanya Sornland, Rachel Painting, Clare Redward, Marlene Roberts and Dugal Purdie. Photo/Supplied
Kerikeri's pickleball team has returned victorious from a successful tournament in Auckland.
Eight local players competed against clubs from across New Zealand in a weekend of thrilling pickleball in Albany on April 6 and 7.
Women's teams Barbara Webb and Marlene Roberts, and Sukanya Sornland and Joanie Irissarri both reached the open women's semi-finals, withSornland and Irissarri progressing to the finals and going on to win the title in a closely fought encounter against Hawke's Bay competitors Jacqui Blakemore and Katrina Lukies.
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, ping-pong and badminton and is one of the fastest growing sports in the US.
It was invented in 1965 in the US and is played on a badminton-sized court that is roughly a quarter of the size of a tennis court with a lowered net.
Kerikeri pickleball spokesman Dugal Purdie said player numbers had increased so much this year they were able to enter six teams across the women's, men's and mixed categories.
"I'm delighted that we've competed with the best in the country and come back with a trophy.
"We've trained hard and the results have come, but we also had a lot of fun and made new friends in the process, which is what it's all about."
New players are welcome to try pickleball at the Kerikeri Tennis Club. Visit www.kerikeritennisclub.org.nz
Shrek musical
The tale of a giant green ogre on a journey to rescue a spirited princess with an over-excited donkey in tow is heading to Kerikeri.
The Stage Door is excited to present Shrek The Musical at the Turner Centre from May 16 to 19.
More than 50 local actors and a live band feature in the show based on the popular 2001 computer animated film.
Shrek The Musical director David Crewe said audiences will enjoy the "full-blooded musical" with lots of choreography and singing.
The cast has been rehearsing three times a week since February.
There are some newcomers to the ensemble as well as a professionally trained local production team giving their time free of charge.
Local talent includes choreography by Alyssa Farrand, dialogue and character coaching by Wendy Irvine and musical directing by Tanya Priebs.
"We've got a fabulous cast of principals; Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona and Lord Farquaad," Crewe said.
"It's a knock-out show really, I'm so thrilled by it."
The Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure also features a cookie with an attitude, a puppet with a bad habit and more than a dozen other fairytale misfits.
Tickets cost $30 adults, $20 child, $80 family of four. Contact the Turner Centre for tickets and more information: www.turnercentre.co.nz or 09 407 0260.
Club success
It may be a little-known club that's only a year old, but members of Gracie Gym Whangaroa - a Brazilian jiu jitsu club based in Kaeo - are achieving great things.
Twenty-four of the 33 members in the club are children aged from 5 to 13.
Even though the kids had no prior experience with Brazilian jiu jitsu or any other kind of grappling or wrestling, they returned victorious from three competitions this year.
The group fundraised to take the children and two adults to the New Zealand Grappler Regional No Gi tournament in February, followed by the National No Gi tournament on April 6.
In total the club gained 11 gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals in the two tournaments.
And on April 27, six out of the nine children who entered the Māori BJJ No Gi Nationals in New Plymouth won two gold medals, six silver and a bronze.
Led by coach Rafael Oliviera, a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the Gracie Gym, the club is now ranked fourth in New Zealand.
Quiz night
Dust off your best 1960s threads – the Bay of Islands Yacht Club is holding a peace, love and harmony quiz night on May 15.
The groovy-themed event is a junior sailing fundraiser and there will be a prize for the best dressed team along with a host of spot prizes.
Doors open at 5.30pm with the quiz at 6.30pm.
Psychedelic attire such as flares, crazy prints and tie-dye shirts, along with long hair, flowers and beards are all welcome.
Phone Bev for tickets and more information on 027 570 1626.
Wearable arts
Whangaroa College is holding its wearable arts event Trash 2 Flash again this year in a bid to help with fundraising for the school.
The May 25 event held at the school in Kaeo also provides a meaningful learning platform for students, promotes creativity and hosts an enjoyable evening of entertainment for the whole community.
Wearable art entries are free. There are children and youth categories, and an adult section for those brave enough.
The show was a great success last year with more than 40 entries.
The Trash to Flash concept means entries are created with at least 75 per cent recycled materials.
The themes for each category this year aim to take the audience on a journey from "Under the Sea" to "Around the World" to "Outer Space" and "A Day at the Races".
Tickets cost $5 adults, $2 child at the door.
Kaikohe workshop
Tips on how to fund community projects and events will be shared by experts at a free workshop at Kaikohe Memorial Hall on May 14.
The aim of the workshop is to demystify the funding process, which can be daunting for those who have little experience in gathering and presenting the detailed information funders often require.
It is open to any groups or individuals undertaking community-based, not-for-profit projects.
There will also be workshops at Mangawhai Club on May 13, Te Ahu Centre, Kaitaia on May 15, Dargaville Town Hall on May 16 and Forum North, Whangārei on May 17.
They all run from 10am to 2pm and are supported by the Far North, Kaipara, and Whangārei district councils.
Representatives from key funding agencies, such as the Department of Internal Affairs and Northland Community Foundation, will be presenting, along with financial and marketing experts.
Attendees can book 15-minute appointments with funding organisations and experts to discuss options for their projects.
Go to www.fndc.govt.nz/funding2019 to find out more.
Noisy pipes
A Kerikeri pipe sergeant was flummoxed after his bagpipe band was ordered to stop playing in Dunedin — supposedly ''the Edinburgh of the south'' — after the city council received a noise complaint.
Dereck Mackay was rehearsing with the Northland Caledonian Pipe Band in Dunedin's Queen's Gardens ahead of the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships when the musicians were approached by a security guard.
He told band members they had to stop playing because someone had complained about "the loud noise". The daytime noise limit in Queen's Gardens is 60 decibels.
Mackay saw the funny side of the situation, even though it meant they had to find another spot half an hour's walk away to continue their practice later that day.
It sparked outrage in some quarters, however, and even a report in the Otago Daily Times headlined ''Pipe band stopped after 'petty-minded' noise complaint''. The incident occurred on March 29.
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Peter Escher received multiple $85 notices for driving through a Paihia carpark.