Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Record crowds see games records

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More than 30,000 people participated in Hilux Rural Games activities in Palmerston North over the weekend.
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Rural Games Trust chairwoman Margaret Kouvelis said “It was so fantastic to see people of all ages trying out different things from tree climbing to digger driving to gumboot throwing.

“Friday was fabulous for Feilding as thousands attended the Property Brokers Running of the Wools and that evening the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards were held in front of a sell-out crowd.”

During the Hilux NZ Rural Games two world records were broken.

On Sunday evening Ricki Paewai and Kris Richards knocked out a new world record in egg catch and throw with a massive 85.96m throw and catch. The duo took the previous world record off fellow New Zealanders Robbie Hollander and Nick Hornstein, which was set in Swanton, England, in 2017.

Taranaki arborist Nicky Ward-Allen broke the world record for the foot lock at 19:55 seconds.

The previous world record 20.17 seconds was gained in 2015 in Tampa Florida by Jamielee Kempton.

The Eltham resident previously held the world record for the fastest footlock in 2010.

Back then the competition was based on a height of 12 metres and Ward-Allen completed it in 13.26seconds in Chicago.

Games founder Steve Hollander says the fourth annual games was the best yet.

“Our trust board is focused on achieving two major aims – celebrating rural sports that helped build our nation and bringing country and city kids together to help close the rural-urban divide.

“Every year this event grows from strength to strength.

“We’re now the largest event between Mystery Creek and Wellington.

“We’re aware the weekend brought large numbers of people to Palmerston North for the weekend. Many local hotels were full and the Plaza shopping mall had its biggest weekend since the New Year,” Hollander said.

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