IT has been hailed as the most successful Goldfield Ashes yet, with 240 teams participating in the largest amateur cricket carnival in the southern hemisphere at Charters Towers over the weekend.
Thousands of cricket enthusiasts swarmed the town for the annual event, which started on Australia Day and wrapped up on Sunday.
Charters Towers Cricket Association President Craig McAlister said there was barely a spare pitch in town.
“It is the biggest so far, 240 teams played, with 16 ladies teams which was double last year,” Mr McAlister said.
He said while he would like to see the event grow further, they were limited by the number of available pitches.
“I think we had one wicket on one day spare, so this is pretty much as big as it can get at the moment, but there's a lot of groups who want to put private pitches in which is probably the way to keep growing it.
“Everyone said they really enjoyed it and would be back next year.”
Charters Towers police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Graham Lowmann said revelers were well behaved over the weekend
“It was a really good weekend where the greater majority of those attending were compliant and well behaved.
Sen-Sgt Lohmann said 10 infringements were issued for public nuisance and good order offences, while 10 notices were issued for public urination.
Five people were charged with drug driving offences, including a 42-year-old man who was caught twice on the weekend, but Sen-Sgt Lohmann said all of those were locals and in no way associated with the event.
”People were compliant and my officers going around the hotels found most to be in the frame of mind in the spirit of the weekend and did not get into any strife.”
While many were in it for fun, competition was hot.
Reldas Homegrown took out the A-Grade prize, Mountain Men Gold won the B1 section, B2 went to Smackedaround, Tridanjy Troglodytes won the social category and the Hormoans won the ladies title.
But while cricket was the focus of the weekend, the biggest winner out of the event were business houses in the town.
Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt, who played for the first time this year with the winning ladies team the Hormoans, said the benefit of hosting the event could not be underestimated.
“It is hugely important economically for us, everything’s full the pubs are full people are eating people are drinking people are enjoying themselves, out and about, we’ve had businesses stay open a lot longer than usual, some 24/7, it’s a great thing for our community,” Cr Schmidt said.
“The fact is they’ll come back, we are what we are, we know we’re welcoming, we know we’re really friendly and cheerful and the towns always upbeat at this time of year.”
And the weather held out with just a few showers during the Masters on Saturday afternoon.
But the sunshine didn’t suit everyone, with Clakacan team member and Charters Towers local Jordy Thomson forced to wear knee high socks after he received severe sunburn to his legs during the first 30 minutes of play on day one.
Team-mate Jacob Stainkey had the right idea, playing under the shade of an attractive Aussie flag umbrella hat.
Many teams were a little worse for wear on Sunday, with half of the Clakacan crew unable to play as they were a little under the weather.
Their supporters, including Bethany Weedon, stepped in to make up numbers in the final match.
Townsville’s Dave Belstead, who played in his first Ashes this year was in good spirits despite being made to wear a sequined Australian flag dress after he dropped a catch.
Charters Towers mum Maree Winterburn has been attending the Ashes for 15 years and is continuing the tradition through daughter Alexis, 13 months, who she took to watch dad Jay play with the Bang Bang Boys.
It was Alexis’s second Ashes, having attended last year at just one month old.
“She was tiny last year, she slept the whole time, this year is much more of a challenge now she’s walking,” she said.
