TARANAKI NEW ZEALAND [RESULTS] Whangamomona

[thetaranakisketchers]

Three Taranaki Sketchers and supporters drove the 1 1/2 hrs inland over three hill saddles to reach Whangamomona on it's biennial Republic Day - especially coinciding with the 30th Global Sketchcrawl Day. In 1989 the regional council boundaries were redrawn including Whanga in the Wanganui-Manawatu region, the townsfolk objected as they wanted to remain within Taranaki. In protest they decared their town a Republic.

Every two years the town holds a celebratory day, a new President is voted in (Billy the Gumboot Goat died in office), and the town swells from pop 20 to 2000.

There are a huge variety of events - whip cracking, gut buster run up the hills behind, pipe bands, dog trials, possum skinning, guess the eels (and jump in with them), gumboot throwing, chppper rides, belly dancers, sheep shearing, wood chopping, hot horse shoeing .....

Food included venison patties and wild pork sandwiches.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-n ... yle/807554

To enter you must purchase a Passport at Border Control.




Scott & Trevor comparing notes at the Whanga Pub


Scott


Trevor


Straw figures


Scott sketching Graham's barrel nosed Ford Truck


1938 Ford Barrel nose (most disappeared during WWII)


"Little Flick"


Trevor


Trevor & Scott sketching the appliances


Scott


Piper taking a break - Trevor


Pipers watching the woodchopping


Mike the street artist drawing his customer. Boyfriend looks on.


Scott



Trevor


Lady with the red hat in the pub

The Republic day concludes with an event that is not quite Pamplona, but the next best thing. The sheep race





Trevor

Later that night

Scott sketching Sebastian on the move

Sebastian's Lego

[Sophie Valenti]

Great to see your nice sketches and the great ambiance of your 30th SketchCrawl !
Sophie

[quirkyartist]

What fun! I very much like the pub, and the kilts and particularly the very comfy looking chairs some of you are sitting in to sketch.

[universitaria]

What a nice place! Great sketches!!!

[travelingsuep]

Fabulous story, great photos and fantastic sketches from you all

I don't think the running of the sheep will take off like Pamplona though.

[thetaranakisketchers]

Merci beacoup, obrigado, Sophie & Universaria for your thoughts - the place certainly had ambiance. Quirkyartist, yes being a small town means you can readily lug around a comfy chair.
Sue, maybe you are right, it mightn't quite be the Pamplona of the south, but it was still fun and less gore.

[Kenny Barfield]

Great story and sketches. Looks like a great day of fun and sketching. It reminds me of some of the small towns around my home in south Georgia (USA).

[alissa]

great sketches and capture of the day. a 1 1/2 hr drive is a bit of a journey , but it looks worth it.
those Sheep !!! - had to laugh

[thetaranakisketchers]

Thanks both, yes those small towns have a lot of values of yesteryear.

Here is a photo from the Taranaki Daily News of someone who braved the 86 eels by diving into a trough of them. She was only nibbled twice.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-n ... fishy-fear

Also from the same source, the Presidential candidates


The defeated wizard announced "Im gutted and relieved. The vote was rigged and I'll be back next time with an even dirtier campaign."

[thetaranakisketchers]

At last we have some of Liz's sketches

Liz sketching Mike the street artist, drawing his client




Woodchopping competition

[thetaranakisketchers]

Another from Liz

The slippery waterslide down one of Whanga's infamous slopes

[martinepittet]

BRAVO ! Your story was so interesting to read ! And the sketches are fabulous and really original ! Congratulations !!

[travelingsuep]

Great sketches Liz.

Love all the photos too.

[thetaranakisketchers]

Our weekly sketches may be found here:
Taranaki Sketchers - http://taranakisketcher.springnote.com

[jackie.flynn]

Unfortunately I couldn't attend sketchcrawl this time, but well done to the others of our group who did. The page is looking great!