For an 11-year-old, it was huge to be there in 1959 when Otago beat the Lions. Then there was 1965, South Africa beating Otago in a quagmire; 1966, Otago beating the Lions; 1968, Otago over Ranfurly Shield holder Hawkes Bay 14-3, and Selwyn Inglis and Don Peddie's incredible tackling; 1971, Otago's great game with the Lions; and 1977, Rex Smith against the Lions for Otago.
I remember Bert Sutcliffe's farewell match, when Artie Dick was showered with confetti when he came out to bat on his wedding day in 1961.
The heart-stopping wins by New Zealand over the West Indies and Pakistan. Terry Glenn, for Albion, hitting Kaikorai's Lance Cairns three times over the Main Stand for a win in the Otago-Southland knockout final. And Glenn Turner racing the clock to defeat Auckland, with Rex Baddeley crashing into one of the concrete boundary seats supports in an attempt to stop the winning runs.
- Warwick Larkins
What a great ground to play on. I remember my first first-class game at Carisbrook in 1959, where on debut I took six for 56 in a Plunket Shield game against Canterbury. One I will never forget. In 1962, I took four for 64 against Central Districts, which included 10 consecutive maidens. On the batting side, I made my top score for Otago (37), playing against Fiji in 1961.
I played on other grounds, such as Lancaster Park, the Basin Reserve, Pukekura Park, Seddon Park and Eden Park, but the best of them all was Carisbrook. I played with Bert Sutcliffe, and was in the Otago team when he scored 264 against Central Districts in 1962.
To me, Carisbrook was No 1 in New Zealand.
- Norman Woods
My fondest memory is the MCC v Otago in March 1947. With the permission of the Rector of St Kevin's College, my friend and I took a Friday afternoon goods train from Oamaru. The train took six hours to get to Dunedin.
On Saturday, Bert Sutcliffe - my hero - scored 197. Otago was dismissed for 340, and the MCC declared on 385. Otago then opened with a century partnership from Walter Hadlee and Sutcliffe (128) before declaring at tea on the Tuesday. The MCC made a valiant chase but fell one run short on 216 for nine.
It was a magnificent game.
What a privilege it was to see such greats as Wally Hammond, Denis Compton, Bill Edrich, Alec Bedser and Bill Voce.
- Graeme Donaldson
My habit of gathering memorabilia began on August 21, 1965. I was 11, and I watched the All Blacks beat the Springboks 13-0 in the Carisbrook mud. Later that evening Dad arrived home with a Springbok tie given to him by Dawie de Villiers.
My collection includes Carisbrook grass from the day Otago beat North Harbour to win the first division title in 1991. A year later, I pocketed some sand from the tee Greg Cooper used to convert his try in extra time to beat North Harbour 26-23 in the semifinals.
I have an unusual programme from 1998, the All Blacks v England. The England team was not named until the morning of the game. The programme listed all the touring party with a box alongside each name so those on the terrace, with a pen, could tick the starting XV as they ran on to the field.
I have my terrace ticket and programme from the day Otago gave Waikato a hiding in the 1998 NPC final. That was the best crowd I've ever been a part of.
- Gerard Shaw
