A new round of local heroes were revealed on Monday night with the launch of the third Flaxmere Heroes calendar. The U-Turn Trust initiative aims to showcase local success stories and inspire the community.

Hawke's Bay riders featured in the top two places in the Pro Elite section of the third round of the NZDH New Zealand North Island Mountainbike Downhill Championships held at the Pan Pac Mountainbike Park in Eskdale over the weekend. George Brannigan and Brook Macdonald, of the Hawke's Bay Mountainbike Club, won first and second place respectively. Pictured here Li'l Jake Robinson, 17, of Rotorua was knocked unconscious during the race. PICTURES: DUNCAN BROWN

The Ikaroa/Rawhiti electorate is geographically one of the largest in the country. Candidates from previous elections had found campaigning across the large region a challenge, alongside understanding the issues of the various iwi. The incumbent Labour MP Parekura Horomia holds the seat with a 1645-vote majority.

Taradale Primary School held a fundraiser Fireworks Extravaganza for Guy Fawke's 2011 at Park Island. The band Stolen Records played at the event. There were only minor incidents during Guy Fawkes celebrations.

Steely Dan played at A Day on the Green, Church Rd Winery, Taradale, on 5 November 2011. Photographer: Duncan Brown

More than 650 people attended last night's Westpac Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards at the Hawke's Bay Opera House on November 3.

Candidates standing for the Tuki Tuki Electorate in the 2011 General Election on November 26.

Candidates standing for the Napier Electorate in the 2011 General Election on November 26.

Fire fighters freed a middle age man in Havelock North after a cherry picker came off the tow bar of a Hastings District Council ute and smashed through the windscreen of a van travelling in the opposite direction.

Dazzling lighting and sound hit you from the minute you walk into Zirka Circus, but it is the acts that follow which are nothing short of spectacular. About 27 performers from China take part in various acts, there are acrobatics, juggling, silly clowns and The Globe of Death, where four dare-devil stunt motor bike riders climb up the walls and roof of a globe shaped cage.

Jonathan Riddell steered Jimmy Choux to victory in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Spring Classic, in the third and final meeting of the Rush Munro's Hawke's Bay Spring Racing Carnival, in Hastings, on October 1.

It was a case of a history repeat for Canada and Japan in the Rugby World Cup clash at McLean Park in Napier. The two Pool A teams drew their match at McLean Park 23-all following a 78th minute penalty from Canada's first five-eighth and vice captain Ander Monro in front of 14,335 fans. The two countries drew their 2007 World Cup match 12-all. Both teams blew early scoring opportunities. Canada's openside flanker Chauncy O'Toole spilt the ball forward with the line open in the first minute.

A heavy hail storm hit Hastings on Sunday afternoon, 25 September, causing damage to buildings in the CBD. Hastings Health Centre on the corner of Russell and Queen streets had to close for the night after water caused roof panels to collapse inside the building. Several other inner-city businesses were flooded.

Organisers are being praised after Waipukurau's Running of the Lambs event where large crowds flocked to watch the mob of woolly participants. About 1000 lambs paraded down the town's main street as one of the signature acts in the Lamb Country Festival.

The Hastings Blossom Parade was bolstered this year by French and Canadian rugby teams and cultural groups in town for the Takitimu Festival. The community put on a great show with cultural, church, sporting and musical groups put on an hour and a half an hour of entertainment.

French winger Vincent Clerc was in record breaking mode as France beat Canada 46-19 in September 18's Rugby World Cup match in Napier. Clerc grabbed a hat-trick of tries to take his World Cup tally to nine, one more than former winger Christophe Dominici's record. While there was plenty for Clerc and his teammates to celebrate after the game played in front of 14,200 fans at McLean Park the score didn't reflect how gutsy and competitive the Canadians were.

"Crazy - but they're absolutely brilliant," Canada's Jebb Sinclair said in reference to the overwhelming greeting offered his Rugby World Cup squad after they touched down in Napier for a two-week stay. A try scorer the previous night in their first-up victory over Tonga, the 25-year-old lock was, like his team-mates, in huge demand for autographs and photos at Hawke's Bay Airport.

More than 250 fancy dressed guests kicked up their heels in CHB on Saturday 10 September 2011 as they partied the night away in Waipukurau. "Drenched" with a shot of liqueur on arrival, guests at the Mutton Dressed as Lamb Ball went all-out to celebrate the Central Hawke's Bay Lamb Country Festival in conjunction with the Real New Zealand showcase. PHOTOS: DUNCAN BROWN

Hawke's Bay teenagers were asked whether Rosanagh Wypych has hurt her chances of winning New Zealand's Next Top Model?

A polar blast covering New Zealand has given Hawke's Bay its biggest coating of snow in many years on 15 August 2011

Hawke's Bay Vs Bay of Plenty National Provincial championship ITM Cup Rugby match in Rotorua.

Hawke's Bay 32 Bay of Plenty 13

Eight more Hawke's Bay officers were recognised in August 2011 for their roles in Napier's Chaucer Rd siege. Six weeks ago, 10 others received New Zealand Bravery Awards marking their roles in the rescues which took place after cannabis dealer Jan Molenaar shot senior constable Len Snee, Grant Diver and Bruce Miller and civilian Lenny Holmwood in 2009.

PHOTOS BY GLENN TAYLOR

Havelock North Photographer Richard Wood was named Photographer of the Year at the 2011 Epson/ NZIPP (New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography) Iris Professional Photography Awards in Rotorua.

The first six images shown here were selected by the judges, from his 10 overall award winning photo's to decide his placing as the New Zealand Photographer of the Year.

It's been an arty week for Hawke's Bay high school students, who have been visiting a touring exhibition of top NCEA art, and winning awards for top art of their own.

PHOTOS BY PAUL TAYLOR

New Zealand was hit by a blast of cold air from Antarctica on 25 July which resulted in snowfalls across the country and snow on the mountains and hill country of Hawke's Bay.

Thanks to readers who sent in these photos.

Police have released CCTV footage of a gang-related shooting in Wairoa hoping someone in the community can help them find the gunman after gang "issues" had made the police investigation difficult.

A 49-year-old Mongrel Mob member was shot through the window of his car at the Mobil service station on Bridge St on October 29 last year.

Napier teen Rosanagh Wypych is a finalist in New Zealand's Next Top Model.  Will she go all the way?

Five prisoners have now spent 16 hours on the roof of Hawke's Bay Regional Prison Prison.  Services general manager Brendan Anstiss said one prisoner became agitated about 4.45pm yesterday after he was told he had been reclassified to maximum security status. "After being informed of this, he encouraged 11 other prisoners to protest the decision with him.''

PICTURES: PAUL TAYLOR

Midlands Charity Wine Auction held at Elephant Hill Winery, Te Awanga, Hawke's Bay.

To buy copies of pictures taken by our photographers visit this link www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/photosales, you will need the file number from the caption under the photo. E.g HBT112348-??

ASB 2011 Stage challenge Hawke's Bay, held at the Hawke's Bay Opera House, Hastings.

To buy copies of pictures taken by our photographers visit this link www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/photosales, you will need the file number from the caption under the photo. E.g HBT112285-??