About 1,000 people attended a relaxed day out at the Hāwea Domain yesterday (Thursday December 28) for the annual Hāwea Picnic Races. 

The event has been held since 1946, making it one of the oldest race meetings in the country, and it operates at a leisurely pace with mellow music, well prepared regulars, and lots of novelty races for young people between the horse racing events. 

Hāwea Picnic Racing Club chair Paul Cunningham told the Wānaka App it was a “very relaxed” day with a “holiday crowd” and steady equalisator betting.

The popular egg throwing event got quite messy.

Hāwea Wānaka Pony Club events started the day, followed by harness and thoroughbred racing which this year had been reduced in size by a number of scratchings.

Sack races were among the novelty races for young crowd members.

So as well as the usual sack races, three-legged races, and egg throwing, two new events joined the line up this year: a 1500 metre run for females and one for males. The females’ race attracted a field of eight contestants and the males’ a field of nine - both with a range of ages who performed impressively in the heat.

Paul said the human races were the idea of Hāwea Flat local Yeverly McCarthy and the committee would run them again next year.

The Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade is always a fixture at community events and this year they were cooking sausages all day in the 25 degree heat.

The Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade.

John Cooper from the brigade said they were raising money to get nine of their members to Auckland for the annual Sky Tower Challenge, and to donate to Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ.

A lucky punter collects her winnings.

Proceeds from the Hāwea Picnic Races are distributed to local causes, and Paul said the committee is looking for “a good Hāwea or Hāwea Flat cause” to donate to again this year. Interested people can contact him on 027 550 0992.

Paul said he was proud of the event’s committee.

Retired rodeo horse Tex and rider from the Wānaka Rodeo (which takes place on January 2 in Wānaka) escorted the race horses.

“They’ve done a great job. It’s always hard work and they’re all volunteers who do it for the love of it,” he said.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App