Motueka leisure marchers host Top of the South event

January 23rd, 2011
[by David Armstrong]

One of Motueka's two leisure marching teams, the Beezneez, played host to a successful day of team skills and fellowship among the 16 teams from around the top of the South Island, at a busy event based at the Riwaka Rugby Club grounds yesterday.

Teams decked out in their own colours from as far afield as Timaru and Greymouth showed off the fruits of their recent work on a variety of marching plans, a type of choreographed military formation display with, for some, various modern moves thrown in borrowed from the Michael Jackson era and hip hop.

The 12-strong Beezneez, decked out on the day in their glittery green wigs, worked hard for many months to organise the event held annually, which included the marching displays during the afternoon followed by a giant barbeque and a "Neezup" dance at the Rugby Club into the night.

The event began at around 2pm with a march past, followed by each team showing its own sequence taking up to 4-5 minutes, and ending with an all-in "maze march" where the 181 marchers (plus the marshall Paul Hawkes) played follow the two leaders to mix and cross over and finally end up back in their lines.

Motueka's other leisure marching team, the Veteranettes, also did credit to their work and practice over the year. The other teams displayed varying standards, from complex precision to somewhat less coordinated, but the emphasis of the day - as it is with leisure marching in New Zealand - was gentle exercise and fellowship. These events are non-competitive and teams were supportive of each others' efforts and quick to applaud all well-executed moves of their rivals.

Beezneez co-coach and event organiser Di Fairhall said they were "blown away by the public support, and the husband support, for the event". They were also very appreciative of the sponsorship provided for the day by a dozen or so local businesses and people.

She said marchers needed to be friendly people who were team players, knew their left from their right, and could count to 20.

An American woman spectator spoken to by Motueka Online had dropped in while travelling south as part of a 4-week tour, seeing the crowd and sign and wondering what leisure marching was. She had never seen anything like this in the US and loved the idea and displays, and appreciated the benefit of the exercise the marchers were getting.

The full line-up of teams before the maze march

The Beezneez relax after their march	The Motueka Veteranettes perform their march plan
Part of the spectators and marchers watch a team in action	Marshall Paul Hawkes during the maze march

The colourful maze march under way

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