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Katherine Urquhart of Hatfields Beach (centre) and friends Ariana Burrell and Ben Kolodziej took first prize of $500 with their giant fish. The group of friends who were last year’s winners came third equal with their graveyard scene, complete with skeleton, grave digging tools and headstones. Rhiannon and Kingston Stevens chose to be buried in sand, giving their mermaids a 3D element. Ten-year old Anneliese Smith made this dolphin with her mum, Hibiscus Matters’ designer Lorry McCarthy. A detail from In Good Form’s sculpture. A replica of the church in England where Jo Dixey of Helensville was christened was made by Jo’s uncle Bill (pictured) and father Tony – both builders.Prize-winners included: Andy Dunn and Eva Penfold’s creation called Bear Boarding won a spot prize. The dog was modelled on the family’s rescue dog Bear, who seemed pleased with the result! This hippo, made by members of St Chad’s church youth group, was decorated in similar style to the participants in the Color Run, held the same day.
A “Kiwiana” tiki, made by Evan Vaughan from Snells Beach, and family, took third equal prize. Olivia and Jo Pezett of Orewa’s Easter Bunny sculpture was a crowd-pleaser and also won second prize. A sand version of the church in England where Helensville resident Jo Dixey was christened was made with great care by Jo’s uncle Bill (pictured) and her father Tony – both builders. Attention to detail included a tiny ‘graveyard’ adjacent to the church. The sculpture won a spot prize.
The Orewa Beach sandcastle competition blew people away in more ways than one with numbers taking part almost triple those of last year, and high onshore winds on the day.
A total of 33 teams entered in the event, which took place on March 20.
Sculptors from In Good Form said that the battle with the wind over several days made their task of building a giant sculpture on Moana Reserve more challenging than at last year’s inaugural event.
Their 2.5m-high sculpture on a theme of Orewa Beach impressed onlookers, including some who came back regularly over the five days that it took to construct.
A final spray with a mix of PVA glue and water helped hold it in one piece.
Local families built a wide range of sand creations with tools that included brushes and even spirit levels.
Castles, a church and boats were built along with a range of creatures including dogs, dragons, dolphins and the Easter bunny.
Asheley Elizabeth and Cynthia van de Loo of In Good Form and Lia Shelford from More FM found judging to be a difficult task because of the high standard and variety of sculptures. Criteria included artistic as well as technical merit, but organiser Hellen Wilkins of Destination Orewa says the community as a whole was the winner on the day.
“It was great to see the number of teams that had adults only in them as well as the family and youth teams, making this an all inclusive event for all ages.”
