 | LOCAL HISTORY |
YEAR: 2018
PEOPLE
The harness racing industry was saddened to hear about the passing of the likeable and well respected Dennis Smolenski this week.
The 63-year-old died on Sunday night and knowing what was coming, as a tribute, his brother Bob raced Rosinupthebow at Methven earlier that day in Dennis’ training colours with his good friend Tony Herlihy driving.
“Dennis was diagnosed with a tumour last year and had an operation, but the cancer returned and claimed him rather quickly in the end,” said Bob.
“He was at his happiest doing gardening work and in recent years he’d really been enjoying life as the caretaker at the West Melton Domain while fixing up his own place at Weedons.”
Dennis was a son of Brian Smolenski, a cousin of Jack, and together the family had great success from the late 70s with the top filly Gina Marie.
She won 10 races under trainer-driver Jack, including the 1978 Great Northern Oaks.
Gina Marie’s first two foals were the top colt and Great Northern Derby winner Nardinski and the brilliant filly Gina Rosa, who won 17 races and $415,000, although she was sold as an older mare to Wellington’s Garth Williams.
Dennis started out as a stock agent for PGG and had stints in the stables of Sam Ballantyne and Jack Smolenski along with the Andertons in Mosgiel.
He made his own way in life doing a wide variety of jobs, but he was best known for his stud work and preparing yearlings with his wife and partner in life, Jill.
Dennis was 43 when he married Jill (nee Fraser) and after a period where the latter worked at Wai Eyre and Studholme Park and Dennis did a bit of training and driving and breaking in, they moved to Auckland to become the studmasters at Woodlands.
During this time they bred and raced the outstanding Dream Away filly One Dream, who won 18 of 23 races and $900,000 under trainers Dave and Clare McGowan.
In 2005, Dennis and Jill took on the job of building up the Stonewall Stud farm and operation and they prepared those yearlings before returning to Canterbury in 2009, when Jill began working at Nevele R Stud before taking over as studmaster in 2013.
“Dennis was helping out Jim Dalgety in the mornings while doing a few of his own horses in the afternoon after they returned home to Weedons,” said Bob.
“He also had jobs delivering sawdust and chickens, but he really enjoyed tidying up and maintaining gardens and he did a lot of that sort of work for various people.
“Jill finished up at Nevele R a year ago and has been running her own dog grooming business since.”
Credit: NZ Harness News, 18 October 2018, Frank Marrion, the Informant
YEAR: 2017
22 February 2017 : official opening of Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial
May 2017 : Rocket lab launches first test rocket into space
23 September 2017 : general election is held. The Labour Party, NZ First and Greens form a coalition government (52nd Parliament)
Credit: Peter Craig
YEAR: 2016
14 November 2016: At 12.02 a.m. a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck New Zealand, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in northern Canterbury as well as neighbouring Marlborough. Landslides cut off road and rail links to Kaikôura – stranding large numbers of visitors in the popular tourist town. Two people lost their lives: one at a property in Mt Lyford as a result of a heart attack and another when a homestead collapsed in Kaikôura.
YEAR: 2016
13 February 2017
Credit: PORT HILLS FIRES
YEAR: 2016
22 FEBRUARY 2017: Earthquake Memorial on banks of Avon opened on the sixth year anniversery
Credit: EARTHQUAKE MEMORIAL
YEAR: 2015
February: New Zealand joins the fight against ISIS by sending troops to Iraq to train Iraqi Soldiers against the Islamic Terror Group.
October 25: The All Blacks Win the Rugby World Cup, the only team to ever win the tournament twice in a row.
YEAR: 2014
20 January: Eketahuna earthquake causes moderate damage in the lower North Island.
20 September: 2014 general election is held. The National Party wins a third term in office.
October: New Zealand wins a seat on the United Nations Security Council, starting from 2015. New Zealand last held a seat in 1993-1994.
YEAR: 2013
19 Aug: Same-sex marriage in legalised in NZ.
12 October: 2013 Local Government elections held
YEAR: 2011
23 October: All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup defeating France in the final at Eden Park.
26 November: The fifth National Government, with John Key as Prime Minister, re-elected with a reduced majority to a second term
YEAR: 2011
22 FEB - February Christchurch aftershock struck at 12.51pm The earthquake was centred 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Lyttelton, and 10 kilometres (6 mi) south-east of the centre of Christchurch. It followed nearly six months after the magnitude 7.1 4 September 2010 Canterbury earthquake, which caused significant damage to Christchurch and the central Canterbury region, but no direct fatalities.
The earthquake caused widespread damage across Christchurch, especially in the central city and eastern suburbs, with damage exacerbated by buildings and infrastructure already being weakened by the 4 September 2010 earthquake and its aftershocks. Significant liquefaction affected the eastern suburbs, producing around 400,000 tonnes of silt. The earthquake was reported to be felt across the South Island and the lower and central North Island.
In total, 181 people were killed in the earthquake, making the earthquake the second-deadliest natural disaster recorded in New Zealand (after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake), and fourth-deadliest disaster of any kind recorded in New Zealand. Nationals from more than 20 countries were among the victims. The Government declared a state of national emergency, which stayed in force until 30 April 2011.
Credit: Christchurch Earthquake Website
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