Marching ‘Stays in the Blood

NZ MASTERS GAMES MEDIA RELEASE 11 FEBRUARY 2012

Marching ‘Stays in the Blood’

After a six year absence Marching has returned as an event at the NZ Masters Games in Dunedin. According to Gay Cooper (62yrs old) from Invercargill it’s a sport that stays with you for life.

“Marching gets into your blood, once a marcher always a marcher. At home I find myself swinging my arms as I’m walking around the house! It never leaves you.”

Gay will be marching tomorrow with her team the Royals Guards from Invercargill which was formed three years ago. The women are aged between 33- 63 yrs with most of them having been marchers 40 years ago when, Gay says, the interest in marching was at its peak.

“40 years ago there would have been more than 20 marching teams in Invercargill. Today there are only five. Since we formed the Royal Guards we go to the National and South Island Champs every year. At the Nationals around 80 - 90 teams compete. We go to do our best and we have great weekends away.”

Marching is traditionally a leisure sport which is not judged but at the Masters Games this year there will be a judging panel, which is another attraction for the Royal Guards.

“We are keen to see how we are rated against other teams. We have a five minute routine where we will march to the famous Invercargill March and also to music by André Rieu.”

The Royal Guards, who checked out the turf at the Forsyth Barr Stadium this morning, believe it’s going to be a beautiful soft ground to march on.

The marching competition begins at 1.30pm tomorrow on the last day of the NZ Masters Games.

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