Alistair McMurran

Ann Sharp has a dominant role in Otago croquet.

Callum Horwell, a double New Zealand schoolboy champion, and younger brother Jonty played in the Kaikorai Festival Fours for the first time yesterday.

Sports Writer Alistair McMurran visited Moldova this year and has now been to 195 countries and territories on the Los Angeles-based Travellers Century Club list. His travelling companion David Horne has been to 258 of the world's 321 countries, more than any other New Zealander.

Otago coach Warren Lees wants women's cricket to be re-established in Dunedin to give the Otago Sparks experience before the national competition.

Heavy rain in Dunedin yesterday has made it difficult for Otago Sparks to make the women's one-day cricket final against Auckland.

It is a nursery for elite rowers. The Otago University Students Association Aquatics Centre has met the expectations of its director, Glen Sinclair.

Rodger Barron has carried his family bowls heritage to a second generation and hopes his sons will continue the tradition.

Otago Daily Times sports writer Alistair McMurran visited Cape Verde Islands this year and has now been to 195 countries and/or territories on the Los Angeles-based Travellers Century Club list. His travelling companion, David Horne, who has been to more countries and/or territories than any other New Zealander, has now been to 258 of the 321 destinations on the club's list.

Two of New Zealand's greatest lawn bowlers, Peter Belliss (Aramoho) and Rowan Brassey (Cabramatta), will be in action at the national championships over the next two weeks.

Ken Walker (Fairfield) and Terry Scott (North East Valley) are the best two bowlers on the Dunedin domestic stage but they have unfinished business on the national scene.

Larissa Dyke (Taieri) is a super woman. She sprints down the front straight at the Caledonian Ground with jet-propelled speed and holds down a high-powered job.

Think of New Zealand's great athletics heroes and you think of Snell, Lovelock, Halberg and Walker, heroes of middle-distance running. But, as Alistair McMurran explains, the likes of Beatrice Faumuina and Valerie Adams have paved the way for throwing events to grab the spotlight and inspire the next generation.

Fletcher Meyer will test himself against the best sailors in the country in the Starling match race series in Auckland next month.

Nearing his 10th decade, Fred Strachan is as passionate as ever about rowing. He looks back on a great year for the sport with Alistair McMurran.

Marshall Hall leaves town next month, but will still compete for Otago at the national championships in Auckland in March.

It has been a long wait. Neale McLanachan (Leith) finally reached his goal by winning the Otago senior men's 10,000m title on Saturday.

It was down to the wire. Fours skip Peter Barron turned the game Wakari's way when he drew the shot with his first bowl on the final end.