Vermin hunt benefits school

FEATHERED HANDFUL: Hayden Whinn, 5, from Hunterville, proudly shows off one of the peacocks his dad shot.

The countryside around Fordell wasn't the place for critters this weekend.

The settlement was home base for the The Great Fordell Possum Hunt and Spring Gala and prizes were up for grabs for all sorts of vermin caught.

The competition was open to adults and children and target species included possums, rabbits, hares, magpies, rats and mice, peacocks and goats. And at the official weigh-in yesterday afternoon the spoils of the hunt were laid out on Hammonds Park.

So while the vermin paid the price, the funds raised from the event are going to the Fordell Pre-School which is upgrading the children's bathroom.

Sue Kenny, one of the organisers, said it was the second "hunt" held for the preschool and this one had attracted more entries.

"We got some funding last year as well as a grant from the Powerco Trust, so we're just doing the last bit of fundraising now to get the work done over the Christmas holidays," Ms Kenny said.

She said they intended to make the "great hunt" an annual event and this year it drew 56 entries from children along with 13 teams.

First prize for the team returning the heaviest combined weight of possums won a guided hunt for one adult and a child donated by Ohinerata Hunting and Clothing, and Wilson's Hunting and Outdoors donated clothing for other prize categories.