All gates open for ute muster 2009

Reuben (6) and John Pyle, of Oturehua, with a 1944 Chevrolet ute at the 2006 ute muster. Photo...
Reuben (6) and John Pyle, of Oturehua, with a 1944 Chevrolet ute at the 2006 ute muster. Photo from the ODT files.
Waipiata's annual ute muster is set to be bigger and better this time around, with new and revamped categories unveiled for the February event.

The Waipiata Country Ute Muster committee has decided on six categories for the coming event: Dressed Ute; Four-Wheel-Drive Ute; Chick's Ute, which must be registered to a woman; Classic Ute, which must date to before 1980; Street Modified Ute, which must be modified to improve street credibility and performance; and Best of the Rest Ute, which must not fall into any other category.

The Best of the Rest Ute will be chosen through a people's choice, while all utes in other categories will be judged by one of five judges.

Each category will have a champion and reserve champion ute, in keeping with a rural competition theme, like that of agricultural and pastoral show judging.

The champion utes will then be judged against one another, for the Best Overall Ute, which will be decided by all five judges.

A rural Fear Factor, tug of war, bouncy castle, sausage sizzle, and "tyre chuck" will be included in the activities, plus the opportunity to party into the night with live entertainment .

Enhancing the event will be the Muster's new logo, designed by the committee this year.

Member Amie Pont said the committee was helping to build a children's' playground in Waipiata.

"It's all thanks to the businesses, individuals, and media who have supported the event. Waipiata is on the map, and we'll soon have a fantastic playground for both local and visiting children," she said.

The Waipiata Ute Muster is on February 7, 2009.

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