Alistair McMurran

New Zealand will face tough opposition when the fourth annual Professional Bowls Association transtasman international is held next week.

Lesley Clague, named the Otago rugby woman of the year last night, typifies the hard-working rugby women in the country districts of Otago.

It is not unusual for the world BMX championships to be held indoors, but it will be a first for New Zealand in Auckland later this month.

Dunstan High School joined the elite rugby schools in the region in the top four of the Highlanders First XV competition on Saturday.

Halfback Nick Annear used his speed to score three tries as University A stormed into the semi-finals with a convincing 41-22 win over Pirates at the University Oval today.

Gemma Tuhega joined an elite group when she played her 150th premier game for Pirates last month.

Former Otago runner Tony Payne (Auckland) will represent New Zealand for the first time at the Gold Coast marathon this weekend.

Otago Boys' High School blew Timaru Boys' High School off a boggy Littlebourne in the 78th annual interschool first XV match yesterday.

Josh McCombie will be following in his brother's footsteps when he competes in the mountain biking world championships in South Africa next month.

Otago Boys' High School was given a rude awakening and needed its rugged defence to beat Southland Boys' High School 12-10 in Invercargill on Saturday.

Two members of the Highlanders squad - first five-eighth Trent Renata and flanker Hugh Blake - played dominant roles when Dunedin came to life in the last 20 minutes to beat Pirates 45-19 in Dunedin premier rugby today.

Three stalwarts - coach Eric Watson and All Blacks Earle Kirton and Josh Kronfeld - have been added to the Otago Rugby Hall of Fame.

Daniel Balchin (New Brighton) is tipped to win his third successive Edmond Cup steeplechase in wet conditions at Wingatui this afternoon.

Frenchman Ben Gavoille was not wanted by any league team when he arrived in New Zealand in February.

The Dunedin Gymnastics Academy is leading a push to establish a facility to house all gymsports disciplines under one roof in the city.

The members of the 1963 Otago team will be special guests at a dinner at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin on Friday night.

The golden comeback continued for Blair Barringer yesterday when he skipped the Fairfield triples team to a national title in Invercargill.

Nigel Birkbeck is a New Zealand champion, but he needed the help of his surgeon to win the crown.