Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Roaring derby tribute to honour Mike (+video)

Stephanie Arthur-Worsop
By Stephanie Arthur-Worsop
News Director, Rotorua Daily Post·Rotorua Daily Post·
22 Mar, 2015 09:20 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Jack Malcolm set his eyes on the finish line at the 2015 Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby. Photo / Ben Fraser
Jack Malcolm set his eyes on the finish line at the 2015 Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby. Photo / Ben Fraser

Jack Malcolm set his eyes on the finish line at the 2015 Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua's finest up and coming race car drivers put their foot to the pedal, competing in a friendly but fierce school trolley derby.

The 2015 Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby saw 49 modified carts racing yesterday to raise money for the primary school and honour the memory of much-loved father, Mike Donnelly, who died of a brain aneurism four years ago.

Peter Schweizer won the adult CTL Racers category and took home the ultimate prize, the 2015 Mike Donnelly Memorial Trophy.

Riley Russell, 13, won the Roadmaster Speedsters 11-17-year-olds category and Sam Short, 9, won the Masterbuilders Dragsters 5-10-year-olds category.

The derby was supported and organised by the Kaharoa School Parent Teacher Association, with a team of 10 parents running the event.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby.
Rotorua youngsters donned their helmets to take part in the annual Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      NOW PLAYING • Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby.
      Rotorua youngsters donned their helmets to take part in the annual Kaharoa School Mike Donnelly Memorial Trolley Derby ...

      Rachael McGarvie, who is on the PTA and derby organising committee, said they were happy with the turnout and it looked like everybody had an awesome time.

      "The whole day ran really smoothly and there were no crashes, though there were a few repairs to the trolleys in the pit stops."

      Mike Donnelly's partner of nearly 30 years, Lisa Beamsley, said it was a fantastic day with lots of smiles and laughter.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "We all had such a wonderful time and it is so humbling to have this event in Mike's honour.

      "It's a day full of emotions, it makes us sad that he isn't here to enjoy the derby but it also makes us happy that it is keeping his legacy alive."

      Ms Beamsley said there were about 500 people present and she would love to see the event get even bigger in coming years.

      "It's an event everyone loves," she said.

      Discover more

      Heartfelt farewell for respected kayaker and teacher (+ video)

      19 Mar 05:00 PM

      Kuirau Park gardens project gets funding

      20 Mar 04:19 AM

      Drag racing: Ward claims 4WD world record

      01 Apr 07:13 PM
      Save

        Share this article

      Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

      Rotorua Daily Post

      Geothermal baths with silica terraces planned for BoP town

      26 Jun 08:58 PM
      Rotorua Daily Post

      Finished: 25 new Kāinga Ora homes ready for Rotorua families

      26 Jun 08:39 PM
      Rotorua Daily PostUpdated

      Heavy rain and thunderstorm warning for BoP

      26 Jun 08:35 PM

      Kaibosh gets a clean-energy boost in the fight against food waste

      sponsored
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Recommended for you
      'It's time to pass the baton': Chorus marks 30 years with leadership change
      Northern Advocate

      'It's time to pass the baton': Chorus marks 30 years with leadership change

      27 Jun 12:00 AM
      ‘Oh my goodness’: Polly Gillespie's shock after human remains found in neighbours’ garden
      New Zealand

      ‘Oh my goodness’: Polly Gillespie's shock after human remains found in neighbours’ garden

      26 Jun 11:56 PM
      Former CFO of failed insurer CBL to pay $1.2m for continuous disclosure breaches
      Shares

      Former CFO of failed insurer CBL to pay $1.2m for continuous disclosure breaches

      26 Jun 11:50 PM
      Tornado strikes Akl, building collapses, Marlborough/Nelson declare states of emergency
      New Zealand

      Tornado strikes Akl, building collapses, Marlborough/Nelson declare states of emergency

      26 Jun 11:36 PM
      Son of prominent Māori activist jailed over historic child sex abuse
      New Zealand

      Son of prominent Māori activist jailed over historic child sex abuse

      26 Jun 11:34 PM

      Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

      Geothermal baths with silica terraces planned for BoP town

      Geothermal baths with silica terraces planned for BoP town

      26 Jun 08:58 PM

      The project includes an 'attractive bath complex' using geothermal fluids.

      Finished: 25 new Kāinga Ora homes ready for Rotorua families

      Finished: 25 new Kāinga Ora homes ready for Rotorua families

      26 Jun 08:39 PM
      Heavy rain and thunderstorm warning for BoP

      Heavy rain and thunderstorm warning for BoP

      26 Jun 08:35 PM
      Two Rotorua motels to end emergency housing contracts this month

      Two Rotorua motels to end emergency housing contracts this month

      26 Jun 08:31 PM
      Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style
      sponsored

      Engage and explore one of the most remote places on Earth in comfort and style

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search