Game-on at the Speight’s Dodgeball Championships

Game-on at the Speight’s Dodgeball Championships at the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

Things turned comically sporty earlier today (Friday 28 June) as local athletes showed off their ducking and diving skills at the hotly-contested Speight’s Dodgeball Championship at Earnslaw Park on Day 8 of the 39th American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.

In true dodgeball style there was banter and ridiculous kit mixed in with competitive spirit and balls flying left, right and centre as 32 teams took to the courts to battle it out for the 2013 crown.

Aspiring Dodgeball stars were also playing for the possibility of achieving national honours as national selector and President of Dodgeball New Zealand Lee Terewi was in the stands.

However the winning team, last minute call ups the Harry Schnuts may not be eligible. All four team members, Michael Weber, Mike McRae, Kirk Golden and Brian Howitz are US imports in Queenstown playing for the local ice hockey team the Southern Stampede.

The team who will have scored sartorial brownie points with the selector were the 2012 champs, Team Collier C4 dressed in retro news team suits and moustaches.

American Express Queenstown Winter Festival Manager Lisa Buckingham said the nature of dodgeball meant that there were always some “hilarious” moments for those on and off the court.

“The Speight’s Dodgeball Championship is always a raucous affair,” said Lisa.

“There were some fantastic moves out there on court today and some close calls on a few occasions. It was fun to watch and all in the name of good sportsmanship and pure entertainment.”

New to the Festival this year was the Explorers Club-Antarctica Show by alt-folk outfit Bond Street Bridge at the Remarkables Red Barn last night. The award-winning multimedia show combined music with the spoken-word and storytelling and entertained a sell-out crowd.

Band member Sam Prebble said: “The rustic venue and local crowd were amazing and it was a great first experience performing as part of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.”

Tonight, skiers and boarders will head up the mountain for the Corona Coronet Peak Night Skiing from 4pm. George FM’s Dan Aux will be mixing on the deck while snow sports lovers enjoy carving it up under what promises to be a crystal clear night sky.

Downtown music lovers looking for a soul-packed evening will head to SKYCITY Casino and get down and funky with The Federation, a talented local band playing the best of blues, soul and funk from 9pm.

A sparkling clear Central Otago night awaits families and movie lovers who will wrap up warm and comfy for the Remarkables Park Drive-In Movie night where Eight Below and Cool Runnings are screening.

Families and sports fans not up the mountain or snuggling up with a drive in movie will be in full voice at the ice arena as the local Southern Stampede ice hockey team will take on the Botany Storm in a double header.

Tomorrow Mountain Mayhem at Coronet Peak is the annual ultimate day of ski field fun. With perfect skiing conditions and another crisp blue sky day forecast all traffic will lead up the hill to watch or sign up on the day for the Auckland Airport Suitcase Race, Jelly Belly Musical Chairs, the MetService Snow Scramble and the American Express Dash for Cash.

Finally tomorrow night the sporting event on every local’s calendar, the Mountain Scene Thriller in the Chiller Charity Boxing match rumbles into action at the Queenstown Events Centre.

A well-known round-up of locals have been getting themselves fighting fit over twelve gruelling weeks, culminating in the fight of their potentially short boxing careers. Always loud, always fashionable and always a winner, this sell-out event will raise money for the Branches Charitable Trust.

ENDS

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