Huge turnout for North Island leisure marching

Forty-nine teams converged on Whanganui's Springvale Stadium on Saturday for the North Island Leisure Marching Display Day.

Spokeswoman for the Whanganui organising committee Shona Doull said the event involved more than 400 marchers and spectators from throughout the North Island.

"It was a really good turnout and we had heaps of really positive comments from everyone," Mrs Doull said.

"The event is held every year in a different place in the North Island and the nationals alternate between the North Island and South Island. This was the 15th North Island event and we are off to Dunedin in March for the nationals."

Leisure marching is for the over-50s and now has more participants than competitive marching, Mrs Doull said.

"It has been going for 25 years. It was started in Tauranga by Audrey Roberts who is turning 90 this week. On Saturday we all got together and sang happy birthday to her. She is living in a rest home so it was videoed for her."

The event ended with a dinner/dance at Wanganui Racecourse on Saturday night.

"I want to thank Trish Quirk, Colleen Love and Irene Bellve who were members of the committee that did so much work to organise this and all of the businesses who sponsor us," Mrs Doull said.

"We couldn't do it without other people's input. It's so expensive to travel to events so we're always fundraising."

Whanganui's Rivercity Diamonds leisure marching team, formerly called the Silver Belles, has 10 members. It is the only marching team in Whanganui.