Earthquake grounds Sir Colin in Cromwell

Longer stopoverCromwell children (clockwise, from front left) Meg Huffadine (8), Isla Huffadine (11), Ollie Sidey-Moore (13) and Joe Allison (13) get in some passing practice with Sir Colin Meads, in Cromwell, on Friday evening. Photo supplied.
Longer stopoverCromwell children (clockwise, from front left) Meg Huffadine (8), Isla Huffadine (11), Ollie Sidey-Moore (13) and Joe Allison (13) get in some passing practice with Sir Colin Meads, in Cromwell, on Friday evening. Photo supplied.
Sir Colin Meads spent an extra night in Cromwell during the weekend because of the Canterbury earthquake.

In Cromwell as guest speaker at a fundraising event for the Cromwell Junior Football Club on Friday night, Sir Colin had been due to speak in Christchurch on Saturday, but his flight from Queenstown to Christchurch was cancelled because of the earthquake. He finally flew out of Dunedin, to Hamilton, yesterday afternoon.

It should come as no surprise he spoke to a non-rugby audience, Sir Colin said.

In his speaking engagements, he addressed a range of groups.

"I cover all sports," he said.

More than 160 people attended the Friday night event, held at the Cromwell Memorial Hall.

Sir Colin visited Central Otago "every couple of years", he said.

Because his flight was cancelled, he attended a Cromwell College-sponsored golf day and the New Zealand Road Transport Authority Region Five annual meeting on Saturday.