Country rugby really was the winner on the day.<\/p>\n
Queenstown provided the perfect backdrop for the biggest-ever celebration of Central Otago rugby on Saturday, at which the 100-year-old White Horse Cup was the centrepiece.<\/p>\n
The cup, Central Otago\u2019s equivalent to the Ranfurly Shield, was donated to the Vincent sub-union that administered Central Otago rugby at the time by White Horse Distillers through its Dunedin agent R. Wilson and Co in 1926.<\/p>\n
Realising its centenary was approaching about three years ago, Alexandra\u2019s Peter Breen and Upper Clutha Rugby Club past-president Nathan Simon got their heads together and came up with the idea of organising a special \u2018\u2018super round\u2019\u2019 to mark the occasion.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s Forsyth Barr White Horse Cup Centenary featured four games, including an epic Battle of the Basin clash between Wakatipu and Arrowtown (won by the former 30-21), a hit-out between Alexandra and a special White Horse Invitational side, featuring players such as Adam Hill and the Argentinian national team\u2019s assistant coach Kenny Lynn, who lives in Queenstown, and the White Horse Cup game between current holders Upper Clutha and Maniototo.<\/p>\n
Upper Clutha won 31-7, much to Mr Simon\u2019s relief.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It would have been awkward going back into my clubrooms if we had lost it, put it that way.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
After almost five hours of rugby, the action moved inside the Queenstown Events Centre where about 400 people attended the \u2018\u2018after-match of the century\u2019\u2019, which was MC\u2019d by former New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew, who said it was \u2018\u2018very sensible\u2019\u2019 there was a \u2018\u2018drinking version\u2019\u2019 of the cup.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018If we\u2019d had that in 2011 and 2015, I would have saved New Zealand Rugby something like $25,000 in jewellery costs.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I shan\u2019t mention any names, but Andrew Hore and Dan Carter spring to mind.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The after match also featured a panel of past players, video messages from some familiar faces, including Joey Wheeler and Steve Hansen, and an auction, which raised more than $40,000 for the newly-formed White Horse Charitable Trust, to be used to support future initiatives and further strengthen Central Otago rugby.<\/p>\n
The first 15 of the specially-made White Horse Invitational jerseys went under the hammer \u2014 they raised $29,000, with the most sought-after jerseys being 15 ($3800), 7 ($3300) and 1 ($2200) \u2014 while two \u2018\u2018White Horse 100\u2019\u2019 jerseys fetched a total of $4600.<\/p>\n
The remaining seven reserve invitational jerseys will be given to each of the clubs for them to raffle or auction off and keep the proceeds.<\/p>\n
Other auction items, which included a Highlanders match-day experience with Wheeler, a helicopter flight for six with The Helicopter Line, and an Otago rugby jersey signed by last year\u2019s Ranfurly Shield-winning team, raised a total of $7300.<\/p>\n
Mr Simon said he was \u2018\u2018really happy\u2019\u2019 with the entire event, but did not see himself organising a repeat any time soon.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s hard to create a festival atmosphere, but the place had that.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The players loved it, the clubs loved it; all the coaches thought it was great.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We had all the dignitaries from Otago Rugby there … and they couldn\u2019t believe that we\u2019d put this event on ourselves …<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It was just a great celebration of Central Otago footy, really.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n