Capital Classic adds to Whanganui Anniversary weekend

Cooks Gardens has been called on at the last minute to host the Capital Classic.

Whanganui's Anniversary weekend just got bigger.

Cooks Gardens has been hastily arranged to host the Capital Classic athletics meeting on Saturday at the same time as the annual Vintage Weekend will be in full swing.

The last minute decision to transfer the event from Wellington means the cream of the country's track and field athletes will be in town a few days earlier than they would have for Whanganui's own Cooks Classic on Tuesday.

Yesterday morning contractors resurfacing Newtown Park reported an unforeseen problems to the Wellington City Council forcing the event to be moved.

It adds to an action-packed weekend of entertainment for Whanganui people with three days of Vintage Weekend festivities planned for the city.

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said taking on the Capital Classic showed what the city was capable of.

"Having quality athletes here is always a draw and it helps cement Cooks Gardens as a premier athletics track. It's really exciting."

Mr McDouall said Anniversary weekend was becoming a highlight on the Whanganui calender with so many events on at the same time.

"It provides a real energy and it's a great way to sell what Whanganui has to offer," he said.

"Considering it's coming on the tail end of the Opera School, we've got all sorts. I'm looking forward to all the visitors."

Adding interest for athletics fans is that both the Capital and Cooks classics events will have Commonwealth Games qualifying trials attached to them.

Cooks Classic meet director Russell Sears said the transfer was a grand opportunity for Whanganui to showcase its excellent sporting facilities and even though it was late notice, plans were well in place to cater for the eventuality.

"We've had a Plan B in place for a number of weeks now and even though it's Vintage Weekend here we can accommodate the influx of people. It will compliment our own Cooks Classic on Tuesday," Mr Sears said.