Nelson Weekly
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Wednesday 31 January 2024
Velodrome underpass takes its toll ANNE HARDIE The combination of a steep incline, sharp corner and concrete in the velodrome underpass led to a brain bleed for eight-year-old Jasper Simmons after he lost control of his bike and crashed into the wall. It was a horrifying experience for
his parents, Ben Simmons and Tessa North, who want warning signs and padding on the concrete corners to prevent further accidents happening. The concrete wall bears the black mark from Jasper’s helmeted head hitting it back in December and it is just one of numerous marks from others crashing into
it when young children on bikes gather speed going down the path and do not have the skills to turn the sharp corner. Ben says it happens fast and the numerous parents who use the facility often have more than one child to look after. Jasper’s crash happened when he saw an older boy ride down the path and he
followed before Ben, who was with his five-year-old daughter, could stop him. “Then I heard this gut-wrenching scream. When I got there, he was under his bike with blood pouring down his face.” Initially at Nelson Hospital, it looked like Jasper just needed stitches for the gash on his fore-
head. Then at 3am he vomited and a CT scan showed he had a fractured skull and bleeding into his brain. A traumatic eight hours followed as Jasper was put on a helicopter to Wellington Hospital with his mother and Ben headed to the
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Dog owner on-point Maree McManaway has owned English Pointers for 35 years and is making a comeback to canine competition. She and her dog Kasper were one of several breeds competing in the Tasman Districts Gundog Society Championship Show, in association with the Nelson Districts Kennel Association, at Richmond Showgrounds at the weekend. Maree, who lives in Stoke, says after a 10 to 15-year hiatus to raise her four children, she returned to the competition two years ago. She says Kasper, one of three English Pointers she owns, has collected a raft of awards for his on-point display in front of the
judging panel, and now takes a friendly approach, meeting other dogs and showing the characteristics of his breed. “It’s all about how the angles of the bones are and their movement, their expression, whether they are capable for the job that they are bred for,” she says. “Looking after them is making sure they get enough exercise, the right food and lots of love. They’re quite a sensitive breed, if you growl at them, they’ll think the world’s ending, “They love swimming, galloping and stretching out, they’re bred to hunt pheasants and quail, so they need to be able to do that or else they’ll go crazy.”
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Local English Pointer owner, Maree McManaway, competed with Kasper, along with around 60 other canine owners over the weekend for breed improvement. Photo: Gordon Preece.
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