Cricket: Kauri Stumpers ready for Golden Oldies celebration

Kauri Stumpers player Brian Campbell is preparing for the 2018 Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Sports Celebration. Photo / Supplied

The Kauri Stumpers are winding back the clock at next month's Golden Oldies sports celebration in Christchurch.

The Northland cricketers are representing the province at the 2018 Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Sports Celebration which runs from April 1-29.

Team member Brian Campbell said a couple of players see this as a last opportunity to play in the tournament.

"Really, there were two of us that were getting on to the other players," he said.

"We've gotten past 65 and we need to go this year. It'll be four years before the competition comes back to either Australia or New Zealand.

"We mentioned the tournament to the guys and 14 of us said we were keen and all 14 of us are heading down to Christchurch."

The Kauri Stumpers were formed in 1987 made up of Northlanders who played club and district cricket in their younger years.

The side has been to four Golden Oldies Celebrations - Brisbane, Rotorua, Sunshine Coast and Queenstown.

Queenstown hosted in 2008, making it a decade since the Stumpers last ventured to the international event.

Campbell said the reason the players, aged from late-30s to 60s, keep on playing is pretty simple.

"We just love the sport. Sometimes I do wonder why I still do that but once you get there, get the wind on your back and field for 40 overs you can't get much better," he said.

"Everyone bowls and hopefully everyone gets a bat. It's not overly serious.

"It doesn't matter if you don't make any runs or you drop a couple of catches. No-one's going to growl at you – it's more likely to the focus of some good after-match banter.

"We do try our best and if we win that's great. But if not, the sun still comes up tomorrow."

This year's event marks the first time in history multiple Golden Oldies sporting events will be held in the same host city, with major events agency ChristchurchNZ supporting event organiser Vintage Sport and Leisure to bring the iconic international sporting event to Christchurch.

ChristchurchNZ General Manager of Attraction Linda Falwasser says Christchurch is the perfect destination to host the 2018 Golden Oldies sports celebration.

"As city hosts, we are thrilled to be welcoming one of Christchurch's largest ever sporting events to our city and encourage the whole community to get involved, check out the games and enjoy the experience," she said.