Record crowds for Field Days, exciting changes for next year

- PHOTOS/Oddjobpr.com

Fine weather and a jam-packed schedule pulled record crowds to the 2013 Northland Field Days this year say organisers.

With temperatures averaging a blistering 25 degrees and very little cloud cover, the field days enjoyed very different weather from the torrential rain that saw the event close early Saturday afternoon last year.

A constant stream of visitors flowed through the gates from 9am to 4pm every day. Over 25,000 people attended the event in total – one thousand more than the last record attendance in 2012.

There was plenty to see and do with helicopter rides, the tractor pull, lawnmower races, dog trials, logger sports and quad skills all being held.

The tractor pull celebrated its 21st birthday in style with entrants coming from near and far according to event organiser John Phillips.

“One driver came up from Hamilton to take part in the event and there were a lot of locals interested.”

The ANZ and More FM took out the bank and business house competitions on Thursday. Shane Phillips won the main competition on the Thursdsay and Mark Phillips took out the hotly-contested 21st birthday Champion's 3-legged race on the Saturday.

Karl Bow was named the logger of the day in the Northland Loggersports event after getting placings in the stock saw and woodsplit events. The Montana team took out the team event, relegating last year's winners, Paniora Logging, to second and third place.

Alan Van Hartigen won the open quad skills competition with Megan Browning taking out the ladies competiton.

Northland Field Days orgainsers and exhibitors gave away thousands in prizes each day. Joe Danher from Tamaterau won the Thursday gate prize of $4,800, Chris Longville from Warkworth winning prizes worth $2,800, and Sarah Bird from Dargaville won prizes worth $1,600

Northland Field Days president Lew Duggan says plans will begin immediately for the 2014 field days.

"The 2014 field days will be bigger and better than this year's event," says Duggan. "The committee is working on some really exciting changes. I can't wait for 2014 to roll round."

www.northlandfielddays.co.nz