Wet weather did not stop the annual Tuatapere Sports Day — now in its 110th year — from being held yesterday.
Starting about noon, the schedule included cycling, high jump, children’s races, shot put, Highland dancing, a family relay and lots of running.
Timber sports were also an important part of the event, as it was the last day of the Southern Axemen’s Christmas Circuit, which began last Friday.
Tuatapere Axemen’s Athletic Society president Peter Templeton was the announcer for the event and said the highlight for him was the double-handed sawing.
About 40 axemen, 30 athletes and 10 cyclists participated in the events, and his favourite was watching the children’s races and seeing them have fun, he said.
"It’s one of the big events in Tuatapere— if it wasn’t any good it wouldn’t have been going for such a long time."
Bad weather was to blame for fewer people attending the event than usual, he said. Rain was not a reason to cancel, however — that had happened only twice in the event’s history.
"That’s pretty good for 110 years ... We can’t cancel because of the weather."
laura.smith
@alliedpress.co.nz
