There was laughter aplenty and lots of cheesy grins as New Zealand Red Cross held the first ever Southland Cheese Roll down Bluff’s Lee Street on Sunday.

Fourteen entries weighed in for the Babybels section (12 & under), that number matched by the entries for the Mature Section (13 & over), with just one entry in the Platter section for groups and corporates.

Competitors had a brief to design a contraption that could carry a block of cheese down the hill in a series of heats and finals in their respective sections and there were definitely some contrasting design concepts at play, from skateboards to balls, to model cars, Tonka trucks and more.

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Logan Strang won the Babybel section with Tonka while Debbie Kennard with Hillbilly Rebel won the Mature Class. The ICC Parks & Recreation entry Speedy Foil won the Platter Section. Logan Strang took out the Big Cheese Award while the winner of the No Rolls Barred all in contest at the end of the day was Lindsay Howley with his creation, Little Lindsay.

Callum Clark, New Zealand Red Cross Humanitarian Development Engagement Manager Southland said, “it was a great day and we look forward to doing it all again next year.” 

It was apparent from many of the comments at the conclusion of the day many will be back next year with even more impressive rigs.

All funds raised will go to support vulnerable people affected by conflict, disaster and social isolation. 

Support for the event came from Shark Experience Bluff, Adventure Southland, Real Journeys, the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival and others! To keep everyone safe on the day the road closure for the event was generously donated by HWR Richardson Group.