Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - or so the saying goes.
The Legendary Lyrical Ladies can confirm the old adage still stands up after the New Zealand Masters Games netball parade at the Edgar Centre on Saturday.
Almost 5000 athletes from 13 different countries are competing in more than 60 sports in the Dunedin games, which finish next Sunday.
Almost 500 netballers took a break from the first day of competition to watch the parade at midday, with four teams adding a performance to their choice of costumes.
The theme was ‘‘heroes'' and the Legendary Lyrical Ladies, from Christchurch, went overboard - in the best possible way.
After team members paid homage through song to New Zealand greats Richie McCaw, Irene Van Dyk, Sir Peter Blake, Valerie Adams and Sir Edmund Hillary, the Christchurch team unveiled its piece de resistance, - a small tricycle.
The team's oldest member, Natalie Gallagher (73), jumped aboard and made a couple of circuits of the main court to the delight of the crowd and - most importantly - Masters Games ambassador and former cycling world champion Alison Shanks, who was one of three judges.
After a brief deliberation, the Legendary Lyrical Ladies were given the award for the best performance.
The Legendary Lyrical Ladies were joined in the parade by several other teams, including the Happy Hens, who were doing their best Dame Lois Muir impersonations using wigs and cardboard masks of the netballing great's face.
The netball competition - featuring teams from all around New Zealand and half a team from Australia - concludes today.
