Alexandra aims for Top Town

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 13

Alexandra aims for Top Town

Alexandra, host town for the first L. and P. Top Town semi-final, is already in full swing, making ready for the games on January 19. The town has set two goals for the occasion — to make the day the most exciting carnival Alexandra has ever seen, and to win a place in the Top Town finals. The organisers are guaranteeing a temperature of at least 35 degrees on the day — enough to have their opponents from Oamaru and Invercargill wilting, they say. “Alexandra is on its way!” says one of the games organisers. “We’ve already started fundraising to get our team to the North Island for the finals. It’s going to be too hot for the people from Invercargill and Oamaru.” However, Oamaru’s Top Town organiser, Alan Lloyd, thinks Alexandra might be on the wrong track. “We’ve suffered drought conditions in Oamaru for the last couple of years — and we’re getting used to it.” he says. Alexandra still might have the edge. They held their elimination trials to pick a team at the beginning of December in the pouring rain and not only did the team-hopefuls do extremely well, but almost the whole town came out to support them. The local newspaper reported that there had never been so many umbrellas up in Alexandra at one time. Alexandra’s sports people were put through their paces over tarpaulins covered in detergent, on greasy beams, over hurdles

and sft high vaults. Most did surprisingly well given the conditions, though one man ploughed through the middle of one of the vaults instead of going over the top. “He literally went right through all five layers of the vault. It just fell to pieces,” said an eye-witness. Bill McCarthy and Paddy ' O’Donnell will co-host the new series of Top Town. Malcolm Kemp, head of entertainment for Television New Zealand, says he is particularly happy that both have declared their availability for the series. “Paddy O’Donnell was a most successful co-host in 1977 and his ready wit and exuberant personality is just what the show requires. Bill McCarthy is also producing the show this time but I felt he would be just right for the role of frontman. Many people remember Bill as the host of the 1974 Commonwealth Games and many would like to see him back in a similar role — so that’s what I’ve done,” Mr Kemp said. The iirst of the 1986 Top Town series will be taped in Alexandra on January 19 and will begin on Television One at 7 p.m. on February The grand final, on Saturday, February 15, will be held at Fraser Park in Wellington’s Hutt Valley. It is neutral territory and Lower Hutt Lions, Lioness and Leo Clubs have stepped in to help Television New Zealand and provide hospitality for the teams and spectators from all round the country. It is the Lions’ 25th anniversary.