Double world masters badminton champion Kevin Ross got the workout he was looking for while winning the NZMG men's 55+ singles title inside Springvale Stadium yesterday.
The former Whanganui District Council chief executive Ross, who claimed singles and mixed doubles gold at the 2013 World Masters in Italy, will be heading to Auckland in two months to try and retain his world crown.
He had the toughest road to the national singles title of all the divisions yesterday, as there were eight players competing in his age grade.
"He was struggling physically at the end," said co-ordinator Graham Feist.
Overall numbers for this year's badminton saw 101 register with two pull out late, being slightly down on 2015.