More than 1000 young netball and rugby players packed Molyneux Park courts and fields on Saturday.
The annual 7 a side rugby and netball tournament, organised by Alexandra Primary School, attracted more than 74 netball teams and 79 rugby teams from Central Otago and Lakes District.
Organiser and school teacher Debbie Steel said the event was the school's largest fundraising event of the year, with about 700 kids playing netball, and about the same number playing rugby.
The tournament was an opportunity to play Alexandra and Queenstown teams, she said. It was a well supported event and people liked it.
''Spirit of small town tournaments is a good thing.''
Co organiser Terry Davies, who has organised the tournament since 1986, retired 10 years ago as deputy principal at Alexandra Primary School. The tournament was the second largest in Otago and had never been cancelled, Mr Davies said.
This year's tournament took six weeks to organise. Mrs Steel said they tried to keep team fees low but it was the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) which did the catering that fundraised the most.
The money raised would go towards landscaping, a new playground and an outdoor area for the school, she said. PTA secretary Jo Annear worked in one of the canteens and said the day was ''just incredible''.
Donna King, of Arrowtown, had brought her children to the Alexandra based tournament for seven years.
''I think its a good tournament, playing different teams that normally play in our area,'' she said.
Rugby results
Winners
U7 Upper Clutha Gold, U8 Cromwell Red, U9 Cromwell Blue, U10 Maniototo, U11 Wakatipu Blue, U12 Upper Clutha Black, Open finalists Upper Clutha GoldRunners up: U7 Maniototo Red, U8 Alexandra Black, U9 Upper Clutha Gold, U10 Cromwell, U11 Upper Clutha Black, U12 Maniototo, Open finalists Cromwell Blue
Netball results
Winners: Year 3/4 St Gerards School Yellow, year 5/6 Hawea Flat, year 7/8 Remarkables Primary School Milford. Runners up: Year 3/4 Remarkables Primary School Kepler, year 5/6 Alexandra Terrace School Aqua, year 7/8 Remarkables Primary School Routeburn.
