Competition a chance to make ‘sandsational’ sculpture

JULIA WADE

17 Jan, 2021

Once again local sand-artisans will have a chance to try their hand at molding sand, shells and seaweed into imaginative objects of art at the second annual ‘Mangawhai Sand Sculpture Competition’, and this years comp has two new drawcards: ‘Drop the Golf Ball’ and a chance to dress-up all fancy with their pet pooch.

A joint venture between Mangawhai Rotary Club (MRC) and ‘Sand Art Mangawhai’ (SAM), founded by The REAL Team Real Estate, the 2022 event will take place on January 30, with tickets available from Rotary’s official stalls at both Mangawhai’s Tavern and school markets, as well as Wood Street Four Square.

Sculptors will be vying for a large amount of cash prizes from a total prize pool of $3800, generously donated by Raincloud Water Delivery, Bachcare NZ, Mangawhai Heads Four Square and The REAL Team Real Estate, with their creations judged by Raincloud’s Graeme Gilby MD and Kaipara councillor Peter Wethey. Fancy dressed canines and their human counterparts will be assessed by a local vet from Mangawhai Vet Centre and BachCare’s Auckland marketing manager.

Event creator Dennis Emsley and wife Marlene, REAL Team owners/agents as well as MRC chair and treasurer respectively, also coordinate the competition and are looking to sign up a few more sand art appraisers to judge the sand sculpture comp: ‘Please contact me, if you’re interested’ Dennis says.

“Our key sponsors have been great in terms of donating all the prize money, plus The Vet Centre Northland are donating dog products to all entrants to the Fancy Dressed Dog and Owner competition and Zac Pullen, their marketing and product manager has been very supportive,” Dennis says. “The ‘Drop the Golf Ball’ competition is a massive Rotary fundraiser in the US and Canada, and was brought to our attention by two Canadians who are now members of our Rotary club.”

The idea is simple he says: “You buy a ticket which buys you a golf ball and your ticket number gets put onto your ball. Then a great deal of golf balls goes into a hopper and we drop them from a great height into a defined area with one golf ball size hole, and the three golf balls that land in the hole win the prizes. If no balls go into the hole, its the nearest three balls that land closest to the hole. In the US and Canada, they usually use a helicopter but we’re using a front-end loader tractor because one of our members is a farmer.”

All winners of the three competitions will be announced on the day after each competition.

Last years event, which raised $450 for Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service, saw sculptors battle an easterly gale as they crafted an interesting variety of sand art, from sea creatures including giant octopuses, a seahorse and a Jaws lookalike, to a giant tuatara, flying dragon, racing car and Tibetan-style tomb.

Proceeds from the sale of entry tickets for the 2022 comp will be donated to MRC to help with the club’s community projects such as the successful ‘Learn to Sail’ programme which was

launched last year and proved popular getting young locals into small boats to give sailing a go.

“I would like to thank all our Rotary members from both Mangawhai and Maungaturoto clubs who have given up their time, energy and, in some cases, plans and equipment to make this event happen, without them it would not be possible. See you all at the beach!”

n Mangawhai Sand Sculpture Competition, Sunday January 30, 10am-4pm, Mangawhai Surf Beach. For more information and to make contact, visit SAM Sand Art Mangawhai Facebook page or Dennis on 0210 808 7933.

The 2021 competition drew a crowd of around 200 to a windswept Mangawhai Heads surf beach. $450 was raised and donated to the surf club. PHOTO/FILE