Homecoming for cavalcade veterans

John and Ida Burgess, astride Fred and Star, practise riding through Owaka for the upcoming...
John and Ida Burgess, astride Fred and Star, practise riding through Owaka for the upcoming Goldfields Cavalcade parade. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
It will be a "great thrill" for John and Ida Burgess when the Goldfields Cavalcade rolls into Owaka next month.

The couple are cavalcade veterans, notching up more than 20 trails, but finishing in their beloved Catlins will be particularly special.

It is the first time Owaka has hosted the event in the 26-year history of the cavalcade. Nine riding, wagon, walking and cycle trails will converge on the town on March 3.

Mr and Mrs Burgess have completed about 21 cavalcades, although Mr Burgess did one as a back-up driver, as he had two new knees.

Before that, he had the distinction of  winning a bandy-legged competition among a group of cavalcaders. "I beat the lot of them," he said.

He had also been trail boss several times but had to give that away because of his legs.

"I’ve got a lot of joints not that good."

But the pair were doing remarkably well, given Mr Burgess was nearly 80 and his wife was "just a year behind".

After farming in the Catlins for many years, Mr and Mrs Burgess now lived at Pounawea. The pair were heading off on trail boss Jane Whitmore’s cloverleaf trail, based at Lawrence, and then Owaka.

Mr Burgess rode horses mustering when he was young.

"My wife has always been a horse rider for leisure. I did it for work," he said.

Mrs Burgess enjoyed the companionship of the cavalcade, saying they did not see some people for the rest of the year.

Mr Burgess sold a horse last year and was not going to ride this year. But then Doug Ramsay, from Te Anau, lent him Fred, while Mrs Burgess was riding Star, a mare that she bred.

"I’ve know her since she popped out," she said.

There were plenty of memories from cavalcades over the years, including the "terrible blisters" Mrs Burgess had after the first one she took part in, but she managed to ignore them and still get up and dance at the hoedown.

Mr Burgess was notorious for his snoring and was once whacked by a disgruntled cavalcader attempting to sleep nearby — but it did the trick. Clutha Trust - Cavalcade to Owaka Host Town Committee secretary Katy Button said the whole community was pulling the event together to highlight the local scenery and hospitality. It was also a major fundraiser for the Owaka community.

A market stalls and entertainment day would start at 10.30am. A parade at noon would  head up the main street to the sports ground, led by the Balclutha Pipe Band and Catlins Area School kapa haka group.  A hoedown, featuring Gold Guitars winner Jenny Mitchell, would be held at night.

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