Lakeside Fun Gets Pulses Racing

Media Release

Sunday 25 June 2006

ART PATRONS DIG DEEP FOR GOOD CAUSES -- LAKESIDE FUN GETS PULSES RACING

A leisurely Sunday morning brunch and the chance to watch acclaimed artists at work had a heartwarming result this morning when more than $30,000 was raised for   Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival official charity Cure Kids and the Wakatipu High School art department.

Renowned sculptors Kon Dimopoulos, Phil Price and Caroline Robinson and artists Darryn George, Nicky Foreman, Kristen Peren, Minhal al Halabi and Petra Bagust created works that were snapped up by eager bidders at the American Express Big Brunch and Sofitel Art in the Mountains event.

Cure Kids raises millions of dollars throughout New Zealand for research into life-threatening illnesses that devastate the lives of young children, and Cure Kids CEO Kaye Parker introduced local Cure Kids Isabella Davies (10), Sophie Newbold (11) and 14-year-old Dan McKay to the audience.

MC Ingrid Leary charmed brunch-goers with her commentary as guests watched the art evolve. Kon Dimopoulos’s table-sized kinetic sculpture was bought with an $8,000 bid, while paintings by Darren George and Nicky Foreman fetched $5,750 and $5,500 respectively.

Kaye Parker said she was absolutely delighted with the $31,010 raised and the support of the artists.

Snickers Day on the Bay is always a festival highlight and this year’s event didn’t disappoint. On a blue skies day, an estimated crowd of 2,000 people clapped and cheered as some hardy souls braved the incredibly chilly waters of Lake Wakatipu for the MORE FM Birdman.

In manmade flying contraptions fit to make the Wright Brothers turn in their graves, they plunged into the lake, some with more finesse and style than others. Overall winner Nicki Jennison from Queenstown’s Hush Spa didn’t just jump into the water, she gave a full-on performance complete with music. In full Marilyn Monroe mode, she disrobed, cocktail in hand, to reveal an outfit comprising of little more than a pair of inflatable breasts, which when submerged in water proved that they did indeed float.

Unable to compete with that performance, Brad Rule, Tim Simpson, Tom Hazlett and Mac Daddy from the TSS Earnslaw came in a credible second with what could only be described as a ‘boat contraption’ while Pinewood Lodge’s Da Vinci Code takeoff saw eight monks, apparently inspired by the rantings of head Opus Dei monk Glen Jansen, leap into the water. Two of them were on a ‘bike contraption’.

In the Snickers Queenstown Bay Classic, four Top Bloke teams performed a series of tasks on and off the water – some with fairy costumes and wings to help them go faster. Makeup was scarily apparent.

An astounding 21 people – ten female and 11 male -- took part in the Snickers Splash for Cash. Top Queenstown swimmer 15-year-old Annabel Simpson, under duress from her mother and feeling the cold afterwards, won the female division, with Tom MacDonald from Christchurch taking the men’s division prize. A special prize went to 15-year-old Andrew Wylie who was the epitome of cool in bright pink togs and pink swim hat.

In the Snickers Jetboat Sprints, with expert navigation skills from former All Black Glen Osborn, a Kawarau Jet boat with Nick Ruddenklau at the helm took first place in 1min 07 seconds.

The Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival is home of the Southern Hemisphere's ultimate winter celebration and runs from June 23 to July 2.

The festival continues tomorrow (Monday 26 June) with the Skyline Teddy Bears Picnic, Queenstown Resort College Quick Smart Mediterranean Cooking Class, the World Cabin Crew Alpine Challenge, the International Whiskey Tasting Experience and the American Express Great Comedy Debate.

For further media information or images please contact:

Mary Todd

Media Liaison

Phone: 03 441 2453 or 027 477 9394

Email: mary@winterfestival.co.nz