Stallions set for golden run
Commercial composter Roger Wark will swap his shovel for a cricket bat in a bid to defend the stumps in Christchurch next month.
The Karaka local is the president of South Auckland Golden Oldies cricket team, the Karaka Stallions.
He and his side is joining about 5000 ‘‘mature’’ sports players from New Zealand and around the world at the Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Sports Celebration in April.
While the Stallions are taking the competition down a notch by playing in the social division, Wark said they have an ace up their sleeve.
‘‘We’ve got the ‘Mayor of Karaka’ joining us for this game, he’s a 73-year-old cricket player and a renowned batsman,’’ Wark said.
‘‘That’s because he doesn’t bowl, he can’t throw the ball.’’
Wark said these days the players prefer batting over the more rigorous tasks of bowling or manning the outfield.
‘‘We all bat but we don’t all bowl, and fielding is the hardest thing to do because you’re out standing around for 40 overs.
‘‘But we’re taking 15 players because we expect a few breakdowns,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s no beers on the field, but after the match we’re renowned for our red wine drinking. We’re up a notch from the competition.’’
This year’s celebration is the first time multiple Golden Oldies events have been held in the same city and Wark said it’s going be a cracker of a party.
‘‘Golden Oldies is always a great opportunity to enjoy a game and catch up with old friends from all over the world.’’
The Karaka Stallions look forward to catching up with their old trans-Tasman friends and allies, an Australian cricket team hailing from New South Wales’ south coast called The Gentlemen of Nowra XI.
‘‘We played against The Gentlemen at our very first Goldies Oldies festival almost 20 years ago and have been on many a tour together since,’’ Wark said.
‘‘It was a friendship formed on the field and cemented in the bar and we’re looking forward to catching up again in Christchurch.’’
The 2018 Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Sports Celebration is set to play out at Christchurch’s Hagley Park Complex from April 1 until April 29.