“It’s a bit of fun and people who aren’t necessarily good at other sports can succeed,” she said.
“It’s actually quite a skill to throw a gumboot a decent length. People who are good at discus and javelin tend to be good at throwing gumboots.”
She did not know how many competitors there would be because registration is not required, with all-comers welcome.
It used to run in conjunction with the A&P Show, which Duncum said provided great numbers.
The tandem of events could not continue because the A&P Show moved dates to the end of March but the Ford Ranger NZ Rural Games, which includes gumboot throwing, takes place before then.
Saturday’s Have a Go event will run from 10am to 2pm, with anyone from the age of 3 and over welcome to try.
The top six men and women on the leaderboard by 2pm will go through to the championships that start from 2.15pm.
The North Island team to compete at the NZ Gumboot Throwing Championships, as part of the Rural Games, will be formed from the top three men and women.
The Rural Games are in Palmerston North on March 14.
Duncum encouraged people to attend both days of rural entertainment.
“The Rural Games are amazing and I’ve often thought that more Whanganui people need to go there because it’s all free,” she said.
“We hope that we get some really good throwers and some new people – that would be nice.”
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
