Queenstown gets ready to rumble

Queenstown is getting ready to rumble this June with a new addition to the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival programme that’s sure to be a knockout.

Festival Director Simon Green is inviting local and national personalities to take one on the chin for charity at a fun fight night dubbed “Thriller in the Chiller”.

Under the tight control of the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association, contenders from all walks of life will square off in a series of three-round boxing bouts at the Queenstown Events Centre on 27 June.

Funds raised on the night go to the Festival’s official charity, the Wakatipu-based Bruce Grant Youth Trust.

Mr Green says Thriller in the Chiller has attracted plenty of interest and he anticipates a 1,000-strong crowd on the night to cheer the contenders on.

“It’ll be a great night out and it’s all for a good cause.  We hope to have some fun with it and get a bit of rivalry going between some of Queenstown’s businesses – it would be great to see the tourism heavyweights go head to head, or have a battle of the builders.

“A big drawcard will be the bout between former Kiwi rugby league hero Tawera Nikau and TV2 Lotto presenter Russell Harrison.  They’ve got some unfinished business after Tawera’s points win in their previous encounter in Rotorua last year,” he says.  “We’ve also got some other celebrities waiting in the wings who will be announced once we confirm the other match-ups.”

Contenders will be match-ready after undergoing a compulsory four-week bootcamp followed by an intense 12-week fitness and training programme run by Braden Lee and Darryl Giddens of Fight Science Gym.  Training sessions will be held in Queenstown and Auckland.

Mr Green says the idea is to give anyone the opportunity to participate whether they’re experienced boxers or not. 

“We’ll be taking every precaution to ensure the bouts are evenly matched and will be keeping a close eye on all contenders during their four months of training.  This will be a life changing experience for a lot of the people who participate and it’s helping support our local youth achieve their dreams.”

Expressions of interest close at the end of February.  Anyone keen to register or find out more should email simon@winterfestival.co.nz.

Tickets for “Thriller in the Chiller” go on sale in early April and start at $39.  Corporate tables will also be available.

The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival runs from 25 June to 4 July 2010. 

For more festival information visit winterfestival.co.nz.