Ann Sharp has a dominant role in Otago croquet.
She has been the top female competitor in the sport for the last five years and was elected president of the Otago Croquet Association last year.
Sharp (66) made her international debut in golf croquet at the women's world championships in Melbourne in 2009.
''I was very nervous,'' she admitted.
''I still get nervous going into an Otago tournament. But once I've played one game, I'm right.''
She found the hardest part of competing internationally was ''not knowing the ability of your opposition''.
Sharp competed at the world champs in Egypt the following year and in Tauranga last year.
Golf croquet is the shorter version of the sport like twenty/20 to test cricket.
''It is a faster game and I find it exciting. It gets the butterflies going in my tummy,'' Sharp said.
''But I love the tactics and enjoy working out the strategy of the game in association croquet.''
The highlight of her short international career came when she contested the inaugural world championships in association croquet in Melbourne. She reached the quarterfinals of the bowl section.
It was a good tournament for New Zealand because Jenny Clarke (Christchurch) was the winner.
The next association world championships for women will be held in England next year.
''Association croquet is difficult to understand and is not a great spectator sport. You need to understand the game to enjoy watching it,'' Sharp said.
''Golf croquet is a simplified game and easier to follow. At world championships they have a scoreboard.''
Sharp's next big challenge is to get back into the New Zealand team to compete in England. Sharp puts a lot of effort into her practice with clubmate Dave Jackson before major championships. She has also worked on the ''top two inches'' since getting into the sport at Forbury Park 12 years ago.
''I've always been curious about the sport and wondered what it was all about. I was walking past the club one day and poked my nose through the gate and felt I wanted to find our more about it.
''It's brought the competitive streak out of me. I love the competition. It is also a great sport to meet new friends in New Zealand and around the world.''
Her mother-in-law, Grace Sharp, played croquet in Invercargill for 40 years, and her sister-in-law, Sue Sharp, also played the sport.
Her husband, Dave Sharp, played basketball for New Zealand in the 1960s. He played senior cricket for Kaikorai and still plays golf at St Clair. His brother was the late cricket commentator, Peter Sharp.
Ann Sharp will be in Christchurch at the end of the month to compete in the New Zealand open championships.
Other Otago competitors who qualified for the event were Anthony Ritchie, Chris Shilling, Nairn Smith and Murray Goldfinch.
