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What started as a little school fundraiser on some dirt bikes has since attracted thousands of motocross riders, some travelling from as far away as Australia, Japan and Scotland.
Danseys Pass Trail Ride committee member Paige Wills said since the event’s inception in 1999, well over 20,000 riders have taken on what has become the longest one-day trail ride in Australasia.
Funds raised help support the children of Duntroon School.
‘‘The ride is over 150km of tracks through private high country farms, braided rivers, forestry, native gorge and rolling farmland in the Waitaki Valley.
‘‘Local landowners, parents and volunteers team up every year and spend hundreds of hours planning, building and running the trail ride.’’
Mrs Wills said the trail ride is the school’s major fundraiser for the year. Money raised over the years has gone towards a multitude of projects and resources.
‘‘We have used the money to modernise classrooms, purchase new computers and technology, put in a pool heating system and also resurfaced the pool. We’ve added astroturf to the tennis court, paid for school trips and provided extra help for students in the classroom. In the past we have also self-funded a fourth teacher to reduce class sizes,’’ she said.
Because the 82-pupil school has been so well resourced, it has been able to attract high-calibre teachers.
‘‘This would never have been possible without the hard work and dedication that goes into this awesome event,’’ she said.
Money from this year’s ride will be used towards a new playground upgrade as well as providing funds for other resources within the school, Mrs Wills said.
The trail ride is on this Saturday from 8am. The event base camp is located on Bushy Creek Road, 9km from Duntroon, via the Livingstone-Duntroon Road.
Signs will mark the base camp from both Duntroon and Tokarahi from 6.30am on Saturday. Registrations can be made online at www.danseyspasstrailride.org.
-By Alice Scott
