 Mossburn Downriver Dash(Click to enlarge) |
A Bikers dream? Sparkling Mountains with a chuckling river, a tail wind on a smooth curvy trail and a slightly down hill gradient. Throw in a BBQ Mossburn-style and the possibility of a $500 take home payday and you have discovered the Mossburn Down River Dash – the Dash for Cash.
About halfway between Queenstown and Te Anau, bikers meet at the Mossburn Golf Club at 10am Sunday the 18th of April for a time trial race. Transport is provided to the start where the Oreti River leaves the Eyre Mountains.
At 12 noon the first cyclist fires down the starting chute to lead the way through tussock and farmland back to the Mossburn Golf Club and a Venison and Lamb BBQ lunch. Thirty seconds later the chase is on as each competitor is released at thirty second intervals. Watch out for the occasional hairpin bend as the smooth gravel “Around the Mountains” cycle trail follows the meandering stream banks!
Peaceful cows and woolly sheep will witness the faster cyclists average around 40 km/hr, with speeds up into the 60s! The current record holders are Jude and John Knight of Queenstown. The time to beat is just over 38 minutes.
But fear not! The social riders can meander along with kids and e-bikes at a civilised pace after the serious contenders. And there are two points where transport can recover anyone discovering that 23km is a little too far. Everyone made it last year to enjoy the Golf Club bar, BBQ lunch and spot prizes.
The Down River Dash is an event run by the Whitehill Classic Trust to benefit the Northern Southland Community. Entry fee is a low $20 per person with a family pass available. Online entries are eligible for a mystery prize. Late entries will be accepted on the day.
