New Zealand Disc Golf Championship 2007
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The 12th Annual Queenstown Classic
Queenstown, March 10-11 2007

Click here to drop to the Results | Click here to drop to the Pics

The Queenstown Experience - by Bob Gentil

I love heading south for this event. The anticipation, the flight down, the welcome from James and the Queenstown locals and a chance to catch up with old mates, who like me make this New Zealand Tour event a high priority on the things you must do list.

Our Queenstown virgin for this trip was the one and only Auckland Freaky Stylist Marty de Haas, after a couple of last minute manoeuvrings and a temporary change of name he had managed to make the Friday lunchtime flight for a weekend he’ll never forget. No Sleep Pete had also once again found himself on a sales trip that saw him winding up appointments in Queenstown at 4 O’clock on the Friday afternoon. It’s amazing the way that works out! The other Auckland representative Simon Feasey was also on the same flight south. Bugger!

When we got up to the gardens for an afternoon practice round the Waiheke Island contingent of Paul Cohen [and wife], Nigel Barnwell and Woody Inwood were already playing the course along with 30 or so locals. [It’s great to see how much the Queenstown Gardens course gets used, mind you you’ll have to book a tee time in the not to distant future.]

The St James Apartments are a great place to stay when you’re in Queenstown, fantastic outlook and right in downtown with easy access to the pubs, clubs and eateries and just a short walk to the gardens disc golf course. Thanks to Debbie and David for upgrading the Auckland crew to a two bedroom executive suite, it was much appreciated.

Saturday, 7:00am. Just as No Sleep and Marty are about to rest their wary heads on their pillows, the alarm goes off, it’s time to sort ourselves out for the trip up Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy and on to Paradise. Sunglasses at 7am were the order of the day. Not to mention something to settle the stomach and the throbbing heads.

The drive up the lake is one of the great 1 hour Alpine scenic trips you can take I reckon, even through dark glasses and slightly blurred vision the boys tell me it’s still spectacular

After the usual stop for the ‘on the way to Paradise picture’, No Sleep selected a piece of music to put on and turn up once we hit the Beech Forrest and the surreal arrival at Paradise, just to give Marty the total experience. It truly was a great drive in.

The usual suspects were there to meet us, the beaming James Smithells, Regan and Nathan from Queenstown.com, Neil Hardey from Dunedin, the Christchurch rent a crowd including Pete Crowther, the newly married Sammy Neilson, Craig Mc Nab and Dave Sanders and Martin Gulley from Twizel. There was a new crew from Invercargill, Kyle & Philip Murray and Gareth Dyker, and it was great to see some internationals as well, Andreas and Camilla from Sweden who I had done the sell job on in Wellington, and Mel Kunz from Switzerland.

Doubles in the morning got away right on time, Wakatipu time that is, and saw Simon and his partner equalling the course record of 40, pretty to watch, and this coming from his playing partner.

After a break for lunch and the usual disc games, in this case a MAC line, we were in groups of 4 and heading to our starting tees for the competition proper. Round 1 for the tour players, plus Paradise plates and the awesome Dart River Safaris trips were on the line. [If ya going to do a Jetboat ride in the area this one is to me by far the most spectacular.]

As the light dimmed the groups came in with Disc Golf stories to tell and some strange Ultimate player’s game to be played, which saw contestants kneeling in a row bum-on to the opposite team waiting to be hit with a 180 gram disc?????? 

Simon Feasey surprise! surprise! Had the best score for the Paradise round with your’s truly a couple of shots behind.
As we headed back towards Glenorchy that evening, towing the Swedish couple who had car problems, the boys were feeling a tad the worse for wear. Mind you dinner and a few bevies at the Glenorchy Pub seemed to bring us round. It was a subdued drive back into Queenstown that evening.

We arrived with just enough energy to down a couple of Marty’s legendary ‘Bacardi Marmalade Cocktails’ before hitting the sack.

Sunday and there’s a good crew in the Gardens for 12th annual Helicopter Lines Queenstown Classic. As always the sun is shining and every body is keen to get started. The new baskets are looking a treat and should make things just a little harder, as most of them replace tree targets, some if which were around two metres wide.

After round 1 in the gardens Simon had increased his lead by another 2 shots and by the end of the afternoon he had extended it to 9. Is there no stopping this man? With him turning 40 this year a few of the Open players had tried to encourage him to enter the masters division but he stuck with Open, much to the delight of Marty de Haas who took out the Masters trophy and 4th over all. The Woman’s went to a delighted Camilla Jernberg from Sweden, who incidentally beat half the men as well. The Locals and 13th over all went to Dave Sanders, he’s got skills with an Ultrastar, and the Grand Masters and second over all went to your’s truly. It was going to be a great crew who took the Helicopter flight the next morning!

Can’t wait till next year!

 

Disc Golf New Zealand
Marty the Queenstown virgin. It's the standard shot for all Freak Styliests on the way to Paradise

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Paradise players briefing. My feeling it's the same year after year was confirmed when 'No Sleep' gave us exactly the same speech in the car on the way in ...

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No Sleep and Marty find a quiet spot to rest up their sore heads.

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Lost In Paradise - Pete Crowther from Christchurch shows his style as he looks for a way through on the 3rd. I don't think there was a way through actually!

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The champ in Paradise. The flag is up and Simon Feasey is in the house.

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Philip Murray sends one over 'death valley'. Team Invercargill were there in force.

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The TD and the Champ. James figured if I could blind Simon with the most beautiful scenery in the world I may have a chance.

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Marty on the rock in Queenstown Gardens. It was a move he'd learnt from a John Travolta movie.

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Good to see fluro orange hasn't gone outta fashion in the wardrobe of Christchurch golfer Neil Gardner.

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Marty verses a shiny new basket in Queenstown Gardens. I'm sure his mark was back where his bag is!

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Prize giving by the Queenstown Gardens Pond. All 37 players got prizes. It's always that way in Queenstown. Thanks heaps!

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'Please don't let it be me that wins the skydive' thinks Gareth. Always great prizes at the Classic, but sometimes dinner and a massage are better than jumping out of a plane over Glenorchy.

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James hands Bob the Grand Masters Trophy. It's still invisible at this stage but I'm sure work is under way on the real one, especially now James in a GM.

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Chris Davies had the biggest improvement between rounds in the Gardens and for that he'll be chucked out of a plane 10,000 feet above Glenorchy. [I thought it was a great prize!]

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Camilla and boyfriend Andreas with the spoils of Disc Golf in Queenstown.

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Mel Kunz, a visitor from Switzerland picks up a wonderful dinner for 2 at a notarised Arrowtown eatery from Queenstown.com's Uan Skikjerbosch, just for being there.

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Marty the Masters Champ heads for the Helicopter for the first place getters flight to the top of the Remarkables. You can't see it here, but he's shakin more that the chopper!

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The GM and the view. The trip to the top had been done a couple of times before but it's always impressive.

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Mel from Switzerland and Camilla from Sweden. The girls squeal with delight [I think] as the chopper drops off the side of the Remarkables.

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Andreas, Camilla, Bob, Marty and Mel. The annual Helicopter Line prize trip to the top of the Ramarkables.

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Team Freaky Styley. It's just one of those photo opportunities that just has to be taken on the way up the lake to Paradise. Note the ones with sun glasses are suffering rather badly. [self inflicted of course]

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James the TD. "I've only 3 of these collectors Tee shirts left wouldn't you like one?"

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Marty, No Sleep, Camilla and Andreas. Waiting on a Tee was never a problem with this sort of scenery. The view up the valley was also awesome.

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Ladies and gentlemen roll up roll up and see Andreas the contortionist. Is there really a way through there?

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Hole 18 at Paradise. Marty looks at the camera and No Sleep checks out Camilla's action.

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Marty No Sleep Camilla and Andreas. It was just one of those pictures that had to be taken.

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Regan Caldwell in Golf Mode. Check out youtube to catch Reg in action

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TD James glows in the subtle light as he putts  hole 4 at Paradise. Pete Crowther keeps a watchful eye on the tape.

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The Invercargill crew brought their girlfriends on bikes to do the spotting. It was great to have their services. Thanks girls!

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Poise, style grace ... what can I say (s)he's a pleasure to watch ... what a (wo)man! (Editor's inserts)

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Just checking! Now Marty was that a 8 or a 9 there on the par 2 16th?

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If there was ever a James Smithells hole this is it, 'BIG STONE' say no more. It's a fine line but it was through .. just!

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The amazing Queenstown trophies with an amazing Queenstown back drop.

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A very happy Swedish girl.Camilla played not only well enough to take the Woman's trophy but come 17th overall as well.

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Camilla braces her self for a peck on the cheek from TD James. "Do ya wanna come and lie on my couch later?" said the Psychologist to the Swedish tourist. 

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Dave Sanders takes out the Locals [Ultrastar type only] Division. He was charged $175 for the overweight baggage on his flight home. [Good thing he made $50 from the sale of his helicopter flight.]

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Marty picks up a little something for the mantle at home. "Nice to be able to put a different name on this one", Marty was heard to say as he made his way back to his seat.

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James, Simon the Open Winner and Uan. And the winner is yawn!! yawn!! Thanks for coming!

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Team Invercargill at the prize giving.There on a mission to not just to get a course put into Invercargill, but to take some of the trophies back South next year.

 

New Zealand Queenstown Classic 2007 Results

Click here to see your standings in the New Zealand Disc Golf Tour 2007

Name
Paradise
Qtown 1
Qstown 2
Total
Simon Feasy
45
44
46
135
Bob Gentil
47
46
51
144
Andreas Kobi
49
51
47
147
Marty de Hass
51
52
46
149
Mario Thomas
49
52
54
155
James Smithells
54
53
49
156
Craig McNab
52
50
55
157
No Sleep Pete
56
54
50
160
Nigel Barnwell
53
53
55
161
Neil Hardey
53
53
56
162
Pete Crowther
56
52
55
163
Sammy Neilson
48
61
56
165
Dave Sanders
61
52
52
165
Martin Galley
53
59
55
167
Woody Inwood
54
59
55
168
Paul Choen
54
56
58
168
Philip Murry
61
56
54
171
Regan Caldwell
57
60
57
174
Camilla Jernberg
54
61
59
174
Nathan Howie
63
59
53
175
Andy Newton
61
59
61
181
Gareth Dyker
63
60
58
181
Mel Kunz
61
58
64
183
Kylie Murry
57
64
62
183
Neil Gardner
DNS
53
55
 
Jim Brewster
DNS
53
57
 
Andrew Heller
DNS
56
57
 
Chris Davies
DNS
54
62
 
Uan Spijkerbosch
DNS
58
60
 
Eugene Tito
DNS
60
65
 
Karl Hunt
DNS
64
63
 
Steve Johnson
DNS
62
65
 
James Swayne
DNS
70
65
 
Jo Fletcher
DNS
72
67
 
Matt Wenlock
DNS
75
68
 
Glen Wedgewood
DNS
74
80
 
Felipe Stein
DNS
DNS
63

Click here to see your standings in the New Zealand Disc Golf Tour 2007

 

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