Gold medalist returns to Karapiro

Ex Maadi rower Sharnel Darrah is back at Karapiro with gold in mind and on display at Outdoors Direct.

Sharnel is an ex rower from Taraunga Girls College rowing up until 1997 and competing in the 8’s, light weight 4 and 4’s. She said “it’s also exciting for me to come out and see the rowing, even brought my old medals”. Her two gold and one bronze medals are also on display.

With rowers generally loving the outdoors it only seemed natural for Darrah to bring the outdoors to them.

Organisers were “real keen after they found out what we were selling,” she said.

Outdoors Direct covers all aspects of camping, apparel and general outdoors. They also fix tents and tent poles.

Two years ago Sharnel’s farther gutted and converted the trailer into the mobile shop and now have created a following. Giving access for smaller towns to purchase the goods without driving for hours to the nearest city was the goal.

Sharnel said “retail is so hard, we will take it to the customers instead of waiting for them to come through our doors.”

The display is smaller than usual with more than 12-15 tents on display but have been kept busy with the big sellers being apparel and accessories.

Sharnel said “It’s not like we sell insurance, people are happy to think about camping and holidays.”