AS the crowds flocked to Charters Towers for the annual celebration of all things Aussie, the heavens opened in what has become as synonymous with the Goldfield Ashes as the cricket.
The largest amateur cricket carnival in the southern hemisphere kicked off on Saturday and continued over the Australia Day long weekend, with the last matches played on Monday.
An impressive 242 teams, including an equal record 18 ladies teams, took part in the three day event, with costumes, beer and nudity the order of the day.
The Flinders Highway was closed between Hughenden and Charters Towers on Thursday due to flooding and water remained on the road, but only a few individuals were unable to make it.
Charters Towers Cricket Association president Craig McAlister said the weekend went well despite the wet weather, with 95 per cent of matches going ahead.
"On Monday we had to call off an A-grade game with the weather, but 95 per cent of games went ahead," Mr McAlister said.
This weekend is of enormous economic benefit to our community, to the fun and games and the hospitality provided to all of those people who are new coming to town, and the returnees
- Liz Schmidt
"A couple pulled out because of the weather but it was really good all things considered.
"The standard in the A-grade was one of the highest we've had for a couple of years."
The Grandstanders, a Cairns team that included former All Souls St Gabriels students took out the A-grade competition, with the Burnett Bushpigs coming in second.
But the real winners at the weekend were Charters Towers business owners and accommodation houses with the town full to capacity.
Charters Towers Regional Mayor Liz Schmidt, who again took to the field with the Hormoans, said there were a lot of people in town enjoying the hospitality.
"This weekend is of enormous economic benefit to our community, to the fun and games and the hospitality provided to all of those people who are new coming to town, and the returnees," Cr Schmidt said.
"It is very exciting for the local businesses, a local cafe stayed open 24/7 so when people had finished drinking, there was somewhere to go."
Cr Schmidt said while storms disrupted some games, no one in the district was complaining about the rain.
"We got a wonderful six inches (152mm) on the pitch yesterday, a big storm came across," she said.
"There's been some good storms around the district."
