Athletics: Numbers down but games all set to go

Athletics Northland is all set for the North Island Colgate Games.

Athletics Northland is all set for the North Island Colgate Games to kick off next week, even though entries haven't quite reached the hoped-for level.

Initially, Athletics Northland chairwoman Audrey Williams hoped entries would reach somewhere between 1200 and 1500, but the official count has come in at 1054. Regardless of that total, Williams says the current numbers will be enough to fill the stadium when the three-day event kicks off on January 10.

"Not as many [entries] as we hoped, however, it's quite possibly because of the money situation in the country," Williams said.

"The clubs themselves are disappointed that they've got fewer kids coming than they hoped. But, it'll still fill the place."

She added entries had come in from South Island competitors, even though they had their own version of the games, and one each from Tahiti and Australia.

Williams said at this stage everything was ready to go, except for the programmes which were in the courier somewhere.

This year is the first time Northland has hosted the Colgate Games since 1998, with the event being the biggest track and field competition for children aged 7-14.

The competition is to run from January 10-12 at the all-weather ASB Sports Arena Stadium at Kensington Park.

Williams said she was hoping for good weather for the competition, but either way it would go ahead. Competition was due to start at 9am each day, with the opening ceremony taking place on the Friday at 8.15am.