It began 78 years ago with just six teams - now it's the largest netball tournament in New Zealand hosting hundreds of teams over three weekends.
The Kurangaituku Netball Tournament gets under way tomorrow at Rotorua's Westbrook Netball Complex on Malfroy Rd with a weekend's worth of social grade netball action.Next weekend it's the turn of the more competitive teams and on the weekend of September 3, it's the school sides' turn.
The Kurangaituku tournament is a great end-of-year celebration after the netball season for social and competitive grades, providing players and spectators with a weekend of fun and sporting action.
Rotorua Netball Association secretary Mary Thompson said a maximum 200 teams had entered into this weekend's Social, C, D, E and F grade competition.
Another 118 teams had registered for next weekend's competitive A, B, C, D and masters grade competition and 83 teams, including five Australian teams, had registered for the schools competition. "It really can't get any bigger than this but with a maximum of 200 teams we don't have any trouble filling the spots."
However, with the Rugby World Cup she said organisers had to move the competition forward this year. "This has impacted on the competitive grade next weekend as some teams are still playing finals. But as long as the weather is fine we can cope," she said.
Mrs Thompson has been helping organise the tournament for more than 30 years. "Some come just for the fun, some come to win, some come for a bit of both. The atmosphere is usually really good with some of the teams dressing up," she said.
For more information call Netball Rotorua on (07) 348 6578. Entry for teams is payable before competition starts, spectators free.
