ON THE BALL: Rotorua's Cassidy Wenmoth in action for the Tarnished Ferns during the second weekend of the Kurangaituku Netball Tournament. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Having been run for 84 years, Rotorua's Kurangaituku Netball Tournament is a well-oiled machine.
Run over three weekends at the Westbrook netball courts, the tournament is an end-of-season celebration of netball run by a dedicated group of organisers and volunteers.
The Kurungaituku Tournament started in 1933 with six teams competing over one weekend and has grown to become the biggest netball tournament in New Zealand.
As it is held at the end of the season, many teams choose to make it their end of year celebratory away trip.
To cater for the large number of teams competing, the tournament has been divided into three weekends, the first proving most popular with grades C, D, E and F participating. The second weekend boasts A, B, C, D and Masters grades and in the final weekend school teams compete.
The two weekends just gone saw a combined 305 netball teams compete in the senior tournaments and this weekend 57 school teams will take to the court.
Rotorua Netball Centre secretary Mary Thompson said the tournament welcomed teams from all over New Zealand, many of whom took part every year, and often included teams from Australia as well.
"Last weekend we had a team from the Chatham Islands playing and there is an Australian schools team playing this weekend.
"They all love it. The thing is, in this day in age, centres like us don't run tournaments for ordinary teams. All the tournaments run round the country are for representative teams, there's nothing for the ordinary old netball team who just likes to play for their club.
"This tournament fills that gap and allows them to play against teams from all over the place. When we do the draw we spend a lot of time matching up teams with opponents from other areas," Thompson said.
She said the wet weather in the first two weekends put a damper on things, but did not stop sides enjoying themselves.
"The teams were wonderful, we didn't have defaults and they played in the rain, but it wasn't as good as when the sun is shining. We haven't had a wet tournament for a long time now, so I guess we were due for one.
"Every year we think we won't have so many teams, because it is expensive paying for travel and accommodation, but every year they keep coming back.
"We had a team in this weekend just gone, from Auckland, that started off in our schools tournament and they've continued through as they got older."
The tournament would not be possible without a large group of volunteers working hard behind the scenes.
"It's a huge amount of organisations, having this many teams. The umpires have a huge job as well, putting two umpires on every court. We usually have 18 courts going every round so that's 36 umpires that have to go out every 20 minutes onto the court.
"I think one of the big things, and why people keep coming back, is the organisation is so good. We don't mess around, our tournament always runs to time and it is well organised," Thompson said.
Kurangaituku Netball Tournament results so far:
August 25/26
Banner Winners
C Grade Section 1: Te Tai Timu 1, Wellington
C Grade Section 2: Waikohu Claydens 1, Gisborne
D Grade Section 1: Blackhawks, Tokoroa
D Grade Section 2: Panthers Tokoroa 1
E Grade Section 1: Arataki, Tauranga
E Grade Section 2: Lorenz 1, Auckland
E Grade Section 3: Arataki Flyerz, Tauranga
E Grade Section 4: All In Elusive, Hastings
E Grade Section 5: Poroporo Rewata, Whakatane
E Grade Section 6: Kura Zoomies, Auckland
F Grade Section 1: He Poutama Awhina. Auckland
F Grade Section 2: Panthers Tokoroa 2, Tokoroa
F Grade Section 3: Toa 1, Wellington
F Grade Section 4: Little Spoons, Auckland
F Grade Section 5: Skyliners, Hamilton
F Grade Section 6: Rourkez, Tirau
F Grade Section 7: Te Aniwaniwa Tuis, Porirua
F Grade Section 8: Just Worx, Levin
C Grade Winner: Waikohu Claydens 1, Gisborne
C Grade Runner-up: Te Tai Timu 1, Wellington
D Grade Winner:Panthers Tokoroa 1, Tokoroa
D Grade Runner-up: Blackhawks, Tokoroa
E Grade Winner: Lorenz (Auck 1), Auckland
E Grade Runner-up: All In Elusive, Hastings
F Grade Winner: Skyliners, Hamilton
F Grade Runner-up: Toa 1, Wellington
Uniform: Te Tirahau, Papatoetoe
Sportsmanship: Hauaroa (F Grade Sect 1), Taumarunui
Goal Average: Toa 1, Wellington
September 1/2
Banner Winners
A Grade Winners: New Jaks (Waitakere)
Runner-up: Rotorua Girls
B Grade Winners: Rotoaira (Taupo)
Runner-up: Paeroa Old Boys (Paeroa)
C Grade Winners: Marlins Platinum (Papakura)
Runner-up: Hashtag (Whakatane)
D Grade Winners: Whangaruru (Whangarei)
Runner-up: Ahurei Tuahine (Manukau)
Masters Winners: Whangaruru Masters (Whangarei)
Runner-up: O'Geez (Tokoroa)
Uniform: Mount Masters (Mt Mannganui)
Sportsmanship: Wahine Toa Waihi
Spirit of Keeness: Utiku (Taihape)
Goal Average: Marlins Platinum
Masters Sportsmanship Trophy: Te Atatu Divias (Waitakere)