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Motorcyclists ride on despite event cancellation

Motorcycle enthusiasts in Timaru took to the open road on Saturday despite the cancellation of an event at the Waihao Forks Hotel in the Waimate District that they had planned to attend.

About 30 riders from several motorcycle clubs departed Timaru’s Town and Country Club for a circuit to Oamaru, through Kurow, and back to Timaru.

Timaru motorcyclists from combined clubs prepare to ride on Saturday.

Bruce Foden makes his way out of the Timaru Town and Country Club car park on a KTM 990 cc motorcycle

South Canterbury Combined Motorcycle Club committee member Morris Jones said the riders had originally planned to attend an unveiling of the Ted d’Auvergne sculpture at the hotel.

Toasting the Ted D’Auvergne sculpture at the Waihao Forks Hotel in June, from left, is Alana Taupo, Colleen Moulton, and hotel publican Sandy Doolan.

With Covid-19 Level 2 restrictions in place, a decision was made last week to postpone the date of the official unveiling and a new date is yet to be announced.

The Waihao Forks Hotel near Waimate. (File)

Private Ted d’Auvergne died on June 3, 1941 in Crete after he was injured in battle and ever since “Ted’s bottle” has remained on display in a glass case in the hotel.