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| Above: The Waitohi players with the new Club bus, just minutes after winning their game. |
Several Picton businesses decided to get behind local rugby team Waitohi by sponsoring a touring bus for the players. The 32 seater bus will enable the players and supporters to travel to the Picton and Blenheim games together, which will help in their preparation for each battle.
The big white bus was once part of the Sounds Connection fleet and has been redesigned with stunning graphics including the Waitohi logo and a great photo of the players on the back window. It also features the sponsors’ logos including; Sounds Connection, Crafer Crouch, Tui, Blue Horizon Cruises, Picton Provedoring, Signs Now, Cortado, Picton Healthcare Pharmacy, Seumus’s Irish Bar, Creek Pottery, Picton Laundry Services and the Flying Haggis.
Barry Dorset, who manages the latter Bar and is a Waitohi Club committee member says, “We really want the supporters to be able to get along to the games and cheer on the team, so we welcome anyone keen to jump on board the bus.” Baz, as he is more affectionately known, headed the sponsorship drive and was really focusing on increasing the community involvement in the game. Robin Beattie, Waitohi Club President, said “the support from the community and local businesses has been really good.”
As for the players, they seem pretty happy as well, with team captain Jimmy Giles saying, “I personally think it’s a great thing, it gets our name out there and advertises it to the local community. I can’t think of any other team that has a bus like this. Also it definitely helps the team environment when you can travel to the games together.”
Well done Picton and good luck for the season boys.
~ Dale Ashworth
