Having a ball at meet-the-Makos [Nelson Mail]
The SBS Bank Makos Family Fun Day drew fans and the next generation of rugby players from right across the region.
The fun day at Trafalgar Park in Nelson yesterday gave fans a chance to meet their heroes and get tips about how to improve their rugby skills.
Devotees from Motueka, Stoke, Wakefield and Takaka were out enjoying the festivities and touching base with their regional rugby heroes and the team's mascot, the Makos shark.
Under the winter sun those at the event got some personal coaching tips on kicking in the Can Kick competition from Tasman Makos Tevita Koloamatangi, Mitchell Scott, and David Havili, among others.
The under-10 kicking competition had many entries while the under-13 was a close contest between two girls and one boy.
Marko Petterson, 10, from Stoke, won the under-10 contest while being cheered on by the Tasman Makos team.
Jeff Lepa signed the shirts and hats of keen fans and Reuben Northover helped wannabe rugby players to practise their passing skills.
Tasman Rugby Union marketing manager Les Edwards said there were about 400 people at the event enjoying the "glorious weather".
He said the fine day drew lots of excited kids and happy parents and the Tasman Makos players "really enjoyed" interacting with all the families.
Hugh Briggs, of Move Nelson Segway Tours, filled the fin of the Makos shark.
"The great thing about the Makos mascot whether he is standing on a Segway or not is that all the kids want to come up to him and do high fives," he said.
Briggs said there were "lots and lots of little kids" at the day, which was "the great thing".
Briggs had been a mascot for two years and had trained others up to fill the role, but they did not always turn up so "more often than not" he had embraced his shark alter-ego to rev the crowd up. "I love it. It's neat having that interaction with the kids and obviously I don't mind making a fool of myself even though I am 64 years old," he said
