10 year reunion. Photo supplied.College Leavers of 2010 recently held a Ten Year Reunion and by all accounts, and the photos this group provided, they had an absolute blast.

Speaking with one of the organisers, Stacey Smith, there was no specific reason for holding their reunion at this time apart from that it’d been ten years since they left.  According to Stacey, Covid “helped and didn’t help” in getting the 65 attendees together.  This number included quite a few partners and their function was held at Cleavers Gastro Pub.  Quite a few of those attending still live in and around Ashburton including Nikita  Moore (nee Kruger) co-owner/manager of Cleavers who was also in the year group.

Fellow organisers included Natalie Ward, Steph Polson and Charlotte Sowman.  Steph managed the trip over the ditch from Australia while others came from all around New Zealand.

The evening’s activities centred around drinks and nibbles plus a live band.  There was a continuous slide show of old photos featuring Lip Sync shows, sports days, mufti days plus many of their last day at College.  Their Year 13 Yearbook also provided much entertainment through the evening where those attending could read what they thought they might be doing in ten years time!

Stacey and other attendees found the event “a really good chance to reconnect” and that the years had “melted away and everyone seemed genuinely interested in what others were doing with their lives” and were “much less judgemental” than their 18 year old selves may once have been.

While the group are “not officially planning another reunion”  they are definitely not ruling one out.

If you are planning something similar, AshColl Alumni would love to hear from you.  We could give your reunion some publicity before the event or as a round-up after your event.

By Shirley Falloon © AshColl Alumni - December 2020

Des Kruger batting. Photo supplied.The all important home advantage lands with Mid Canterbury this weekend as Hawke Cup cricket returns to Ashburton.

A total of three changes have been made by Mid Canterbury coach Garfield Charles for their showdown with Otago Country, which starts at the Ashburton Domain Oval today.

Chances are that there will be more to offer the bowling line-ups of both teams compared to last season where the bat dominated down in the dusty trails of Alexandra’s Molyneux Park.

It was a match which should offer fond memories for Angus Jemmett, as the Ashburton teen hit 108 on Hawke Cup debut.

The young rep’s return is one of three changes for Mid Canterbury after he missed the challenge against Southland in Invercargill a fortnight ago.

Other changes are the additions of Tom Middleton and Allenton quick Mana Singh to the playing 11.

All eyes will be on Des Kruger, after his knock in Invercargill.

The Stags and rep all-rounder is in somewhat of a purple patch at the minute for both club and region.

Otago’s bowlers will be keen to see the back of him early.

Mid Canterbury who were unlucky not to claim the points against Southland should not be overawed by the visitors following on from their previous Hawke Cup meeting back in January.

Despite the visitors posting 327, Country claimed first innings bragging rights courtesy of an unbeaten 146 from captain Tim McCormick.

He won’t be a factor for Country this weekend with his name missing from the team sheet.

Country are coming off first-innings points against North Otago, although their second innings batting effort appeared tender at best, as they finished the match at 83/6 after claiming a 76-run first innings lead.

• Mid Canterbury team:

William Southby (captain), Devon Flannery, Ben Innes, Tom Innes, Angus Jemmett, Des Kruger, Tom Middleton, Karmjeet Singh, Mana Singh, Shaun Stagg

© The Ashburton Guardian - 12 December 2020

Murray Young Real Estate. Photo supplied.Frustration is growing among home buyers who find they’re regularly failing to clinch a deal on multiple offer properties.

The red-hot market is seeing records set in terms of the number of offers made and the amount those offers exceed buyer expectation, says veteran sales agent, Murray Young.

Over the past two months 146 homes have changed hands around the Ashburton District and virtually all of those have sold in record time and for higher than anticipated prices, the Property Brokers area manager says.

He’s been selling homes for 35 years and said over those years he’d seen times when the market was running hot, but never to the extent it was at the moment.

“It’s a very, very unusual market.

“When a property comes on the market at the moment there are a number of buyers who’ve been looking and for some the motivation is pretty high and frustration levels are pretty high too,” he said.

Multiple offers were coming in on most properties and in many cases that meant listing price was almost irrelevant, Young said.

“Some of those are significantly over and it’s not uncommon to get offers well in excess of our expectations.”

And that meant for some home buyers an element of frustration was creeping in as they missed out on a number of deals.

There was a flip-side for sellers, however, as there was a risk of underselling their property because they accepted what they perceived as a good deal before the sale date expired, he said.

“We want everyone in the market who is interested to view a property so the vendor can make a good, informed decision, but the question is now becoming, what is a good price in this market?”

The only limiting factor currently was a lack of listings and there was also a real shortage of sections in all areas of Ashburton.

This was likely to continue into next year, as it took time for developers to move projects through the consenting process before development could begin, he said.

Traditionally the Christmas-New Year period sees a slow-down in real estate activity, but Young does not anticipate this will happen this year.

The number of houses sold in the district is up 25 per cent on the same time last year, following the national trend of a 30 per cent rise in sale numbers.

The median selling price in November in the district was $385,000, up 21.7 per cent ($30,000) on November 2019.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 12 December 2020