Festival a huge success
BY ANGELA CROMPTON
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Good behaviour at the Blues, Brews and BBQs festival on Saturday strengthens the argument in favour of bringing back glass handles, says festival convenor Graeme Boon.
This year polycarbonate tumblers were given to ticket holders instead of the glass mugs usually issued, even though 7000 had already been purchased. Organisers agreed to the switch following calls by Blenheim police to increase public safety.
Good crowd behaviour might support the return of handles in 2011 if organisers decided to reapply for their use, Mr Boon said this morning.
"We're going to have a debriefing in a couple of weeks' time. And we've still got glass in stock."
Marlborough Wine Festival organisers took their fight to retain the use of glasses at the festival, on this weekend, to the District Licensing Agency hearing and won.
Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan, of Blenheim, said 23 of the 44 people arrested at the weekend were at, or had been to, Brews, Blues and BBQs, with most arrests for disorderly behaviour.
"With the lower numbers and lack of glass, police feel it was a safer environment to operate in," Mr Sloan said.
Two people were arrested at Brews, Blues and BBQs for fighting, one for assault and resisting arrest, one for being unlawfully at the A&P Park and three for disorderly behaviour.
Four more were taken to the police station for detox after over-indulging at the festival, Mr Sloan said.
Blues and Brews organisers run their festival each year for the Blenheim Round Table. Festival profits go back to the community for youth-orientated programmes.
Mr Boon said a licensing application for this year's festival was submitted last July. An earlier application would probably be needed if organisers want glass handles to be reinstated for 2011.
Applications cost about $100, he thought, but that would increase if a lawyer was employed to help argue their case.
"The only reason we run the Blues, Brews and BBQs is to raise funds for the various youth-orientated programmes that we support each year, whether it's sport teams or whatever.
"If we don't make any money we don't give it away."
A police sergeant he spoke to at the weekend had been pleased with the crowd's behaviour on Saturday, confirming organisers' views.
Mr Boon said there was always a handful of troublemakers, whether it was at Blues and Brews, the wine festival, or Saturday night in town.
Too many party opportunities may be to blame for the smaller crowd although 4500 tickets were sold for the 17th annual festival.
Asked what may have kept others away, Mr Boon said events like the AC/DC concerts, the Wellington rugby sevens and next weekend's Marlborough Wine Festival were likely culprits. "But we still got better than break-even ... and the [Round] Table were very pleased with how it all went."
Some beer connoisseurs had pledged to boycott this year's Blues and Brews after organisers bowed to police pressure and replaced glass mugs with polycarbonate tumblers. Mr Boon said the response had been mixed.
Festivalgoer Ross Brownlee, from Nelson, told The Marlborough Expressstill has a glass mug issued 12 years ago at Blues and Brews. He said few would want to keep the polycarbonate cups.
Funds for charity are raised annually at the festival by the Blenheim Round Table by renting out stall sites and taking a percentage of each stall's overall sales.
COMPETITION WINNERS
Winners in the 2010 Blenheim Blues Brews and BBQs costume competition were: Sunny Side; Road Works Cones; Dirty Double Brown; Beer Box. Blues Brews and BBQs barbecue competition winners: Supplied Product: Muster Busters 1, Shellz Kitchen 2, Shonate Marching 3; Own Product: Muster Busters 1, Witherlea School 2, Smoked Marlborough 3.
- The Marlborough Express
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