The community took the kids hunting and at the end, Coroglen Tavern hosted them all.
200 people and loads of pigs, possums, rabbits and snapper (all of these were deceased)
This annual event has been going 35 years and it is a wonderful success. Of course, the reason is all the creatures that are laid to rest from their days of eating and tearing up the natural bush. But there’s much more. Colin Harris, the Patron of this Pig Hunting annual fair, sums up the nature of this special weekend very well. “In the provincial areas, we rely on our ability to harvest. Our roading and infrastructure has been damaged and we have always had to cope with slips, damaged bridges and lack of access. Our sustainability and resilience is from what’s around us. It is important to be resourceful within our own communities. This event is like an encouragement to be in touch with the bush, care for it and help sustain it. The creatures that are victims of the hunt are all pests, except for the snapper in the fishing category. The children, their parents and grandparents and community friends all understand this. We also teach many skills as part of the weekend.”
Liana Johnson has been the co-ordinator for about ten years but in recent months, due to giving birth to baby Leo, she has taken a back seat and a new team is at the reins, though husband, Les Findlay is in the centre of things as President of the Pig Hunting Club. Essentially, the actual Pig Hunt, the logistics, the marketing, weighing, Programme and prizes are all organised by young men. They do an exemplary job. This is particularly noticeable with the encouragement given to the small children running in the obstacle race where they carry an animal of their choice in a race against the clock. It’s not easy, but with all the cheers and affirmation, the children are out there pushing themselves. The other area is the prizes, carefully selected and given to the right child for the right reason. For this, Scott Barrington, this year’s key organiser, says a big thank you, as without the sponsors who donate and give their services, there would be no wonderful annual Pig (and other named creatures) Hunting weekend.
The Whitianga Pig Hunting Club s to be commended and so is the large community attending and taking part in the hunt. Coroglen Tavern provides the perfect comfortable large outdoor/indoor space, bar and restaurant for large numbers to gather and enjoy - watching the children, some good conversation re hunting and politics and a few chilled glasses with a hearty meal after the community barbecue.
Sponsors:
The Stunned Mullet, Dive-Zone, GlassHouse, Pinky’s, Whitianga Sports Shop, Subway
Peninsular Auto Electric and Marine, The Warehouse, Stoney Creek, Longshore Marine,
Mercury Bay Farm Supply, Fun-Zone, Blackjack Surf, Craig Hodge, Project Kiwi, Razorback Fishing,
Whitianga Hardware, Scott Barrington, Whitianga Ice, Hunting and Fishing Kopu, The Coroglen Tavern; RD1 Farm Source Kopu; Coromandel CFM, The Informer.
135 children and young people entered, even more popular than last year.
Prize Winners: Pigs: 24 Pigs Weighed Total Weight – 826.6kg
1 Boar Ridge Coleman- 47.3kg; 2 Boar - Nev Davis - 46.7kg; 3 Boar - The Crake Clan - 40.6kg;
Average weight - Wyatt Watson - 34.6kg.
Rabbits
Junior: 1-8yrs - 1 Aubree Perry - 2.355kg; 2 - Bently Perry - 2.115kg;
3 - Kaley O’Connor - 1.890kg.
Intermediate: 9-16yrs
1 Levi Hill – 1.790kg; 2 Gabbrielle Maddox - 1.695kg; 3 Kaden Boyd – 1.690kg.
Possums
Junior: 1-8yrs - 1 Ryder Hamilton 4.320kg, 2 Mila Hamilton - 4.230kg,
3 Possum - Kenzie Harvey – 4.214kg.
Intermediate: 8-16yrs - 1 Travis Isemonger - 3.790kg, 2 Kayden Willis – 3.780kg,
3 Luka Willis – 3.750kg.
Snapper
1 Snapper - Kelain McDonald - 4.75kg, 2 Snapper - Arlo Guilford – 3.5kg.
3 - Snapper – Gabrielle Maddox – 3.1kg.
Heaviest Combined weight of Possums and Rabbits – Team HP – 95.7kg
Caption: This annual event has been going 35 years and it is a wonderful success. Of course, the reason is all the creatures that are laid to rest from their days of eating and tearing up the natural bush. But there’s much more. Colin Harris, the Patron of this Pig Hunting annual fair, sums up the nature of this special weekend very well. “In the provincial areas, we rely on our ability to harvest. Our roading and infrastructure has been damaged and we have aways had to cope with slips, damaged bridges and lack of access. Our sustainability and resilience is from what’s around us. It is important to be resourceful within our own communities. This event is like an encouragement to be in touch with the bush, care for it and help sustain it. The creatures that are victims of the hunt are all pests, except for the snapper in the fishing category. The children, their parents and grandparents and community friends all understand this. We also teach many skills as part of the weekend.”
Liana Johnson has been the co-ordinator for about ten years but in recent months, due to giving birth to baby Leo, she has taken a back seat and a new team is at the reins, though husband, Les Findlay is in the centre of things as President of the Pig Hunting Club. Essentially, the actual Pig Hunt, the logistics, the marketing, weighing, programme and prizes are all organised by young men. They do an exemplary job. This is particularly noticeable with the encouragement given to the small children running in the obstacle race where they carry an animal of their choice in a race against the clock. It’s not easy, but with all the cheers and affirmation, the children are out there pushing themselves. The other area is the prizes, carefully selected and given to the right child for the right reason. For this, Scott Barrington, this year’s key organiser, says a big thank you, as without the sponsors who donate and give their services, there would be no wonderful annual Pig (and other named creatures) Hunting weekend.
The Whitianga Pig Hunting Club s to be commended and so is the large community attending and taking part in the hunt. Coroglen Tavern provides the perfect comfortable large outdoor/indoor space, bar and restaurant for large numbers to gather and enjoy - watching the children, some good conversation re hunting and politics and a few chilled glasses with a hearty meal after the community barbecue.
Sponsors:
The Stunned Mullet, Dive-Zone, GlassHouse, Pinky’s, Whitianga Sports Shop, Subway
Peninsular Auto Electric and Marine, The Warehouse, Stoney Creek, Longshore Marine,
Mercury Bay Farm Supply, Fun-Zone, Blackjack Surf, Craig Hodge, Project Kiwi, Razorback Fishing,
Whitianga Hardware, Scott Barrington, Whitianga Ice, Hunting and Fishing Kopu, The Coroglen Tavern; RD1 Farm Source Kopu; Coromandel CFM, The Informer.
135 children and young people entered, even more popular than last year.
Prize Winners: Pigs: 24 Pigs Weighed Total Weight – 826.6kg
1 Boar Ridge Coleman- 47.3kg; 2 Boar - Nev Davis - 46.7kg; 3 Boar - The Crake Clan - 40.6kg;
Average weight - Wyatt Watson - 34.6kg.
Rabbits
Junior: 1-8yrs - 1 Aubree Perry - 2.355kg; 2 - Bently Perry - 2.115kg;
3 - Kaley O’Connor - 1.890kg.
Intermediate: 9-16yrs
1 Levi Hill – 1.790kg; 2 Gabbrielle Maddox - 1.695kg; 3 Kaden Boyd – 1.690kg.
Possums
Junior: 1-8yrs - 1 Ryder Hamilton 4.320kg, 2 Mila Hamilton - 4.230kg,
3 Possum - Kenzie Harvey – 4.214kg.
Intermediate: 8-16yrs - 1 Travis Isemonger - 3.790kg, 2 Kayden Willis – 3.780kg,
3 Luka Willis – 3.750kg.
Snapper
1 Snapper - Kelain McDonald - 4.75kg, 2 Snapper - Arlo Guilford – 3.5kg.
3 - Snapper – Gabrielle Maddox – 3.1kg.
Heaviest Combined weight of Possums and Rabbits – Team HP – 95.7kg
Caption: The hunters and community gathered at Coroglen Tavern after
the event, celebrating a great day out.