Plans are already being made for a bigger and better Dubbo Sixes next year after a bumper inaugural event on the weekend.
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The event, organised by the Macquarie United Football Club, attracted 24 teams and fast-paced entertaining matches were played out on both Saturday and Sunday at the Lady Cutler grounds.
The Dubbo FC Bulls walked away as champions after taking out both the men's and women's divisions but there was much more to the weekend than the winning sides.
"We had 18 teams in the men's and six in the women's who fought it out for glory," Macquarie United's Colin Hayden said.
"It's the first time an event like this has been played out this way.
"Previously we've had to travel. We go to Forster annually and that's a six-and-a-half or seven hour drive each March and they get up to 165 teams up there.
"We thought we'd put a plan together and do something here that showcases the local talent and invite others."
The carnival may have been made up predominantly of players from the Dubbo competition but plenty of visitors were sprinkled throughout the teams.
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Players came from as far as Victoria and Brisbane to play, while others travelled from Sydney, Newcastle, and Bathurst.
"It's really different to what a lot of players are used to," Hayden said of the six-a-side format.
"Even in the local summer competition, that's seven-a-side and in sixes there's a lot more room and it's much faster.
"You've got to compete hard and utilise your substitutes."
The men's division attracted the most teams and by the end of the weekend the only two left were the Bulls and the EDU Lone Rangers.
The Lone Rangers were largely made up of younger players who had impressed with their pace during the carnival and but the experience of the Bulls proved too much in the decider.
The final was an entertaining one and things were all square at 2-all at half-time but the Bulls edged things in the second stanza and ran out 3-2 victors.
The Dubbo FC women's side was one of the real standouts of the weekend and starred during its run to the title.
The Bulls defeated Macquarie United 4-1 in that grand final.
Hayden said the Macquarie United club will come together some time soon to look over the event and plan for next year.
He added the feedback was positive coming out of the inaugural carnival but said things can be tweaked in order to ensure it is something that continue to grow and succeed for years to come.
Hayden was also eager to thank all sponsors involved, the main ones being McDonald's Dubbo and Wellington, Coates Hire, Burmac Finance, the Castlereagh Hotel, Burmac Financial Services, and Discovery Holiday Parks Dubbo.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
