Cycling Events Awarded Best in Country

Two of New Zealand’s premier cycling events picked up accolades at the recent NZ Association of Event Professionals Awards Night. The awards highlight the current growing success of the cycling event industry in this country.

Blenheim’s Forrest Estate Graperide, run by Top Of the South Events Ltd and Southern Lakes Motatapu Icebreaker organised by Iconic Advenures were named New Zealand’s Best Established Event and Best Marketing of Event respectively at the awards night held in Dunedin last week.

BikeNZ would like to congratulate partnered event organisers Pete Halligan (Forrest Estate Graperide) and Geoff Matthews (Motatapu Icebreaker) on this fantastic achievement.

“Both Pete and Geoff were inaugural members of the BikeNZ Partnered Events pilot Programme and have once again proven themselves to be at the top of their game in providing high quality riding experiences for New Zealanders. New Zealand is fortunate to have a network of high quality operators who are incredibly enthusiastic about cycling” BikeNZ CEO Rodger Thompson said.

“Events in the running for the awards ranged from sporting through to cultural events and it was fantastic to see two cycling events win from the five categories”.

The Forrest Estate Graperide regularly sells out its 101km road circuit where the legendary Renwick wineries, Queen Charlotte Drive and Pelorous Sounds provide a stunning backdrop for riders on a challenging course. The next event will be held 4 April 2009.

For more information visit www.graperide.co.nz  

The Motatapu Icebreaker is a 50km offroad cycle or offroad marathon through some of New Zealand’s most picturesque mountain ranges and encompasses a stunning high country route between Lake Wanaka and Arrowtown, only accessible one day a year. The next event will be held 14 March 2009.

For more information visit http://www.iconicadventures.co.nz/Motatapu/  

The BikeNZ Partnered Events Programme will be expanded in November with a broader focus of assisting event organisers all over the country provide safe, quality cycling events for the ever increasing number of New Zealanders taking part in events each year. For more information contact Karyn McQueen, BikeNZ Events Manager (Karyn@bikenz.org.nz)

The NZAEP Event Industry Awards were established to recognize, celebrate and inspire outstanding achievement in the industry. In their third year the NZAEP Event Industry Awards attracted a very high calibre of event entries in each of the 5 categories. Judges commented favourably on the depth and variety of events entered in this year’s awards and the very high quality of the applications.