March 2, 2025 • 6 mins
We catch up with a Queenstown legend who has been commentating on the Rural Games for the full ten years it has been going, ahead of this year’s event in Palmerston North.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our next guest is I've got to say his first name,
Craigie doesn't answer to that. Ferg Ferguson out of Queenstown,
former junior All Black, great sports commentator, great bloke, hot
jock until very recently. Fergie would have you know the
song named the song and the artist for ten points.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Well, I was sitting there on hole Jamie, and I
was trying to listen to the music. I couldn't hear,
couldn't hear the things.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I have no idea, Okay, what can you can you
hear this?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I don't know what's going on. It was a one
hit wonder by a guy by the name of or
A Falco Rockney Armadaeus.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Ah.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, any hey, ten years this year or the end
of this week marks ten years of Rural Games. You
and I were there on day one in Queenstown, your
home patch, when Steve Hollander, founder and trustee bought the
Rural Games to Queenstown. It was a great venue too.
They're in Parmas the North. Now, those were a magical days.
(01:03):
What are your memories from those early days of the
Rural Games.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I think my earliest memory was the sky called Steve Holland,
but bursting through the studio door then Queensland, who I
had no idea who he was. He just announced himself.
I said, what do you want and he explained about
the rural Games concept that was coming to Queenstown and
he wanted me to be part of the commentary team
and amongst you and Wiggy at that point. And I
think I think former All Black halfback Justin Marshall might
(01:29):
have had a wee role to play that year as well.
But yeah, it was Steve bursting into the studio and
introducing himself and away we went from there. You know,
two years in Queensta you talk about the magnificent venue
at the rec round. Was being a local you know
at the time when Year one was in Queenstown at
the recground, I thought, oh, I don't know about post
hall borers and the likes of going into the hallowed
(01:51):
turf at the rec ground. But they got away with it.
We had two great years there before we moved on
to the magnificent venue of the Square and Parmesan North.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Steve Holland a course of nature. That's a kind way
to describe Steve. But he sent me my first job.
I got banished to the far end of the Queenstown
Recreation Ground there where you played a lot of footy.
Ferg to commentate the tree climbing and I thought, Jesus
will be as boring as batship. I shouldn't have said that.
(02:19):
It was fantastic and I stuck with that job and
I loved it because you get to commentate on the
arborousteing their job. I had no idea what tree climbing
was all about, and it's probably a bit like that
when you got allocated the coal shoveling.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, well coal shoveling was the first one up for
me and a couple of real coasters in Brian Coglin,
whose dad sadly passed away in the Strongman Minders asked
of many decades ago, and Richie Banks, father of Marty
Banks who now run it up in Palmers North. They
make the trip up and I got to the coal
shoveling and thought, what the hit goes on here? But
it was a very quick education with Toggan and Richie
(02:58):
and others that were there in that first year, and
that's become one of the highlights. I like that tagline
that Steve uses during the games. You know, sports that
build a nation, and we know that there's you know,
Cole's got its stigma around the country and probably a
bit of a resurgence at the moment through Minister Jones.
But it's great that there's a platform for coal shoveling
of all things to be showcased in Parmers in the
(03:20):
North and it's always a crowd favorite.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
My favorite the tree climbing and the dog trolls were
my favorite ones that I got to commentate. Always wanted
to do the speed shares, but Wiggy cut my lunch
on that one. I know you loved the Highland Heavies,
the Highland Games.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, the big boys when they come out to play
and that's always a bit of a highlight and I
guess that's probably one of the favorite ones for me,
Big Luke Reynold and with the big Aussies coming back.
But I think it was Andrew Millard from cold Oner
who we took it out last year, and Craig Manson
from Ashburton, John McFarland, the local pastor from Palmi North
who takes part as well. But that's always a classic event.
(04:00):
You've got the cave toass you've got the weight over
the bar where they it's a bit like a high jump,
but you've got a bit this twenty five kilogram weight.
Throw it over the back or over your shoulder and
up over the bar. And then of course the stones
to the barrel, where you've got five stones to pick
up at the base of a wine barrel, stick them
on the top and they range from around ninety odd
(04:20):
kilos to one hundred and fifty six at the end
of it all and that's a staggering event that brings
Parmes the North, the Square to its feet absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Of course the Rural Games will be on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday in the Square and Palmerston North magnificent venue.
It is the Country coming to town and you know
Palmeston North is a real farming town along with Fielding
just up the road. But before that or on the
Friday evening at the magnificent Awa Perni Function Center, we
(04:50):
have the Rural Sports Awards. You're going to be mc
along with Rowena Duncan here from the Country and of
course Craig Wiggy Wiggins. It's a fantastic night I think
in true Steve Hollander fashion, he's managed to get another
three tables in there because it's a sellout every year.
You've got to love Steve and we've got three tables
(05:11):
left to buy. And honestly, I've been to a lot
of these sort of awards functions over the years and
I'd have to say, and I don't even know the
name of the catering company therg, but whoever cater's for
that dinner in Palmerston North on Friday night are the
best caterers I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, you're right there, Jamie. It's a magnificent night and
the caterers do a fantastic job. And I mean Steve
gets a magnificent lineup of local politicians and members of Parliament.
I think even the Sports Minister Mitchell's going to be
there this weekend and guests speakers Suwayne Smith and Tim
Sowby and Dylan Smith the Olympic trampolinist, and Cameron Lesley's
(05:49):
going to be there in a whole host of others.
It's probably one of the best sporting nights outside of
the hallberg S, that not better than the Halberg's. Can
I say that outside of the Halbergs in the country.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah, absolutely, fantastic all right, Wiggy, thank you very wiggy
to try got Wiggy on the brain. I still see.
I gave up trying to get the gig for the
speed sharing, but he does an excellent job there as well.
You enjoy your weekend and Parmi North, how could you not? Yeah, well,
thank you, good on you and good on you for
being there for ten years for the rural games. Craig
(06:23):
ferg Ferguson out of Queen's down there,
Our next guest is I've got to say his first name,
Craigie doesn't answer to that. Ferg Ferguson out of Queenstown,
former junior All Black, great sports commentator, great bloke, hot
jock until very recently. Fergie would have you know the
song named the song and the artist for ten points.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Well, I was sitting there on hole Jamie, and I
was trying to listen to the music. I couldn't hear,
couldn't hear the things.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I have no idea, Okay, what can you can you
hear this?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I don't know what's going on. It was a one
hit wonder by a guy by the name of or
A Falco Rockney Armadaeus.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Ah.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, any hey, ten years this year or the end
of this week marks ten years of Rural Games. You
and I were there on day one in Queenstown, your
home patch, when Steve Hollander, founder and trustee bought the
Rural Games to Queenstown. It was a great venue too.
They're in Parmas the North. Now, those were a magical days.
(01:03):
What are your memories from those early days of the
Rural Games.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I think my earliest memory was the sky called Steve Holland,
but bursting through the studio door then Queensland, who I
had no idea who he was. He just announced himself.
I said, what do you want and he explained about
the rural Games concept that was coming to Queenstown and
he wanted me to be part of the commentary team
and amongst you and Wiggy at that point. And I
think I think former All Black halfback Justin Marshall might
(01:29):
have had a wee role to play that year as well.
But yeah, it was Steve bursting into the studio and
introducing himself and away we went from there. You know,
two years in Queensta you talk about the magnificent venue
at the rec round. Was being a local you know
at the time when Year one was in Queenstown at
the recground, I thought, oh, I don't know about post
hall borers and the likes of going into the hallowed
(01:51):
turf at the rec ground. But they got away with it.
We had two great years there before we moved on
to the magnificent venue of the Square and Parmesan North.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Steve Holland a course of nature. That's a kind way
to describe Steve. But he sent me my first job.
I got banished to the far end of the Queenstown
Recreation Ground there where you played a lot of footy.
Ferg to commentate the tree climbing and I thought, Jesus
will be as boring as batship. I shouldn't have said that.
(02:19):
It was fantastic and I stuck with that job and
I loved it because you get to commentate on the
arborousteing their job. I had no idea what tree climbing
was all about, and it's probably a bit like that
when you got allocated the coal shoveling.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah, well coal shoveling was the first one up for
me and a couple of real coasters in Brian Coglin,
whose dad sadly passed away in the Strongman Minders asked
of many decades ago, and Richie Banks, father of Marty
Banks who now run it up in Palmers North. They
make the trip up and I got to the coal
shoveling and thought, what the hit goes on here? But
it was a very quick education with Toggan and Richie
(02:58):
and others that were there in that first year, and
that's become one of the highlights. I like that tagline
that Steve uses during the games. You know, sports that
build a nation, and we know that there's you know,
Cole's got its stigma around the country and probably a
bit of a resurgence at the moment through Minister Jones.
But it's great that there's a platform for coal shoveling
of all things to be showcased in Parmers in the
(03:20):
North and it's always a crowd favorite.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
My favorite the tree climbing and the dog trolls were
my favorite ones that I got to commentate. Always wanted
to do the speed shares, but Wiggy cut my lunch
on that one. I know you loved the Highland Heavies,
the Highland Games.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, the big boys when they come out to play
and that's always a bit of a highlight and I
guess that's probably one of the favorite ones for me,
Big Luke Reynold and with the big Aussies coming back.
But I think it was Andrew Millard from cold Oner
who we took it out last year, and Craig Manson
from Ashburton, John McFarland, the local pastor from Palmi North
who takes part as well. But that's always a classic event.
(04:00):
You've got the cave toass you've got the weight over
the bar where they it's a bit like a high jump,
but you've got a bit this twenty five kilogram weight.
Throw it over the back or over your shoulder and
up over the bar. And then of course the stones
to the barrel, where you've got five stones to pick
up at the base of a wine barrel, stick them
on the top and they range from around ninety odd
(04:20):
kilos to one hundred and fifty six at the end
of it all and that's a staggering event that brings
Parmes the North, the Square to its feet absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Of course the Rural Games will be on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday in the Square and Palmerston North magnificent venue.
It is the Country coming to town and you know
Palmeston North is a real farming town along with Fielding
just up the road. But before that or on the
Friday evening at the magnificent Awa Perni Function Center, we
(04:50):
have the Rural Sports Awards. You're going to be mc
along with Rowena Duncan here from the Country and of
course Craig Wiggy Wiggins. It's a fantastic night I think
in true Steve Hollander fashion, he's managed to get another
three tables in there because it's a sellout every year.
You've got to love Steve and we've got three tables
(05:11):
left to buy. And honestly, I've been to a lot
of these sort of awards functions over the years and
I'd have to say, and I don't even know the
name of the catering company therg, but whoever cater's for
that dinner in Palmerston North on Friday night are the
best caterers I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yeah, you're right there, Jamie. It's a magnificent night and
the caterers do a fantastic job. And I mean Steve
gets a magnificent lineup of local politicians and members of Parliament.
I think even the Sports Minister Mitchell's going to be
there this weekend and guests speakers Suwayne Smith and Tim
Sowby and Dylan Smith the Olympic trampolinist, and Cameron Lesley's
(05:49):
going to be there in a whole host of others.
It's probably one of the best sporting nights outside of
the hallberg S, that not better than the Halberg's. Can
I say that outside of the Halbergs in the country.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah, absolutely, fantastic all right, Wiggy, thank you very wiggy
to try got Wiggy on the brain. I still see.
I gave up trying to get the gig for the
speed sharing, but he does an excellent job there as well.
You enjoy your weekend and Parmi North, how could you not? Yeah, well,
thank you, good on you and good on you for
being there for ten years for the rural games. Craig
(06:23):
ferg Ferguson out of Queen's down there,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!