"You can’t stop us unless it’s Level 3 or Level 4," Dunedin-based championships publicity officer Viki Kingsley-Holmes said.
"It’s buzzing," she said of the championships atmosphere.
Twenty-seven teams took part in the event at the Edgar Centre yesterday, and also at a preliminary competitive day on Saturday.
An estimated 270 team members were in the city for the event, and parents, coaches, travelling judges and volunteer supporters raised the total number to more than 600.
Four Dunedin teams — Onyx Militaires under-12, Onyx Militaires under-16, Unite Senior and Onyx Militaires masters — competed.
Teams of all ages from throughout the South Island participated: six seniors, four masters, nine under-12s and eight under-16s.
Mrs Kingsley-Holmes said the national championships in Auckland had to be cancelled earlier this year, because of the Covid-19 threat, but the event would be hosted by Marching Otago in Dunedin in March.
She was encouraged by the fact that the number of teams participating in the South Island championships was the same as last year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic disruptions.
Organisers were maintaining Covid-19 precautions, making use of hand disinfectant and social distancing.
There was definitely a marching "bug", which she had also been bitten by, having been involved in the sport for more than 30 years.
"It helps people come together," she said.
One of the sport’s attractive features was its emphasis on working together, and supporting each other.
Judges, organisers and volunteer supporters also worked as teams.
"It’s all about teamwork.
"You’ve got to keep in time with each other and you’ve got to march as one."
