Browns Sports Day goes ahead
Despite the presence of rain, the 125th Browns Sports Day went ahead.
At least 300 people braved the conditions on Saturday, which the Browns Sports Day president Brad McCallum said were not as bad as he expected.
It drizzled in the morning, cleared up around midday, then came back in the afternoon, he said. “We just pushed through the day, the only thing that got cancelled was the family relay when weather conditions weren’t the greatest.
“We had a good period of time, it was overcast with a bit of a breeze, but it was actually quite warm, very pleasant.”
But even with the wet weather, attendees found their own sunshine, McCallum said. “The children’s entertainment was the highlight of the day, especially the water slide with the firefighters.
“Even later on when we were clearing up, some of the kids were still sliding around where the slide was, getting covered in mud.”
Typically, up to 1000 people gather at the annual sports day, but given the postponement earlier in the month and concern about the weather McCallum was pleased with the attendance.
“We had a smaller crowd than usual, but I think everyone that was there enjoyed their day out,” he said. “We’re just having a funny season down here in Southland, and you’ve just to go get on with it.”
McCallum said the original day on February 10 was cancelled due to rain, but the committee forged ahead, albeit with a few less attractions than usual.
The speed shearing went ahead on the 10th as the marquee had already been built, and a few of the other vendors such as the children’s Jeep cars couldn’t make it due to the day change, McCallum said. “If the weather’s not that good in Invercargill they think its not that good in Browns.”
After a postponement due to the El Nina weather pattern earlier in February, the institution that is the Browns Sports Day went ahead on Saturday. captured some of the action.