Fun for country music acts

Bev Goile from Hawera performs at the Rangitikei Country Music Club's awards. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

Hundreds of people turned out for the Rangitikei Country Music Club's awards over the weekend.

The awards attracted nearly 150 country, country rock and gospel acts to Rangitikei College in Marton.

Organiser Bronwen Newman said people had come from as far away as Nelson and Northland.

"We have some damned good talent here," she said.

The awards are for the over-50s age group, and are held in Marton every year at Queen's Birthday weekend.

On Saturday the "diamond" - or open - awards were held in several categories, while Sunday was devoted to the "emerald" - or novice - categories.

"Some of the emerald performers have never performed in public before, so it's a big deal for them," she said.

Concerts were held on both Saturday and Sunday nights.

The judges were Muriel Mitchell, Jackie Jones (both of Palmerston North) and Millie Eltringham (of Waikato).