KEY POINTS:
Three world titles didn't match it. Nor did his other triumphs and, for legendary bowler Peter Belliss, his win in the national fours at Pakuranga last week meant the most - because it was achieved in the shadow of cancer.
Leukaemia, to be exact - or chronic lymphatic
leukaemia, to be even more precise, for which Belliss is receiving out-patient treatment at a Sydney cancer clinic.
The condition, which is potentially life-threatening but which has a better prognosis if caught early, has changed Belliss's's attitude to bowls. It made his comfortable win in last Wednesday's national fours at Pakuranga, where he skipped Justin Goodwin, Steve Posa and Kevin Robinson something that outshone even his three world titles.
Soon after his four had vanquished Nick Grgicevich's Mt Albert lineup (which included his old pairs partner Rowan Brassey) Belliss revealed that his condition, which affects white blood cells, has been with him for three years.
"It was something which just came out of the blue towards the end of 2005," Belliss says. "It showed up in the blood test when I went for a routine mid-50s checkup. I had had no symptoms."
Though far from morbid, Belliss now lives each day as it comes. One in three die from the condition if it is detected late and survival can range from five to 25 years or, as Belliss is being told, can even live a full life without needing treatment such as chemotherapy.
He takes some consolation from the fact that, after starting with three-monthly checks, he is now down to one a year.
"Sometimes when I go to the clinic I feel like a fraud because there are many there a lot sicker than I," he said. "I'm especially mindful of the kids I see there and I also know what Michael Laws [mayor of his old hometown Wanganui] and his family have gone through with their little daughter, Lucy.
"So far I've not really had to do much different and still do things like going to the gym three times a week. And in my job [bowls manager at Sydney's powerful Cabramatta club] I've never had a sick day.
"But you never know what's ahead. Like many others I used to think I was bulletproof but this has been a life-changing experience."
Partly because of his condition,
Belliss believes he is much more philosophical in his approach to matches. He's not too apprehensive before a major game nor does he brood too much if he loses.
"I think I've been quite relaxed about this for a long time. But a thing like this makes you realise there are a lot more important things in life than a game of bowls.
"When the losses happen, they're not as hard to take as they once were."
Belliss, however, believes there were many other aspects to his win in the fours which made it almost a fairy tale. Besides his medical condition, he has suffered the break-up of his marriage, the death of his mother and financial losses in the current economic crisis.
But even without those, there were many other aspects to the win which made it special.
Had it not been for a chance call from Goodwin, he may not have made the trip from Sydney for what was his first appearance at the nationals in eight years.
While he already had five national titles making him a gold star holder as long ago as 1995 (when he won the pairs with Lance Tasker), Belliss had never won a fours championship, the discipline closest to his heart.
Twice previously he made fours finals only to be beaten by a composite combination, skipped by Nick Unkovich at Onehunga in 1985, then by Brassey's Okahu Bay lineup at Palmerston North in 1995.
The bigger regret of these narrow failures was the first for it was a lost chance to help his late father, Jack, who was also in his four, win a national title.
So it was almost as if it was pre-ordained that he would finally achieve his fours' ambition this year; when fate seemed to be on his side. A game which proved crucial was a post-section win over the 2008 champions, skipped by the spectacular Canadian Ryan Bester.
Belliss ruefully pointed out that the game was won even though the Bester four won 13 of the 18 ends.
The big difference was that Bester's winning ends were mainly in singles whereas those of Belliss came in big numbers.
Belliss has long accepted that his international days are over but clearly is not completely at ease with what in recent years has been a selection policy which seems to preclude anyone who has reached 50.
That has also ended Brassey's international career and has probably led to someone like Robinson (whom
Belliss has always rated highly, even before they came together for this year's nationals) never being considered for the Black Jacks.
"In a sport like ours I don't think age should always come into it," Belliss says. "Like anything, it helps to have served an apprenticeship. Some of them [who have been in recent national selections] may have been rushed through a little too quickly."
While he has always placed physical fitness as a priority, Belliss wondered whether some modern training methods sit easily with a game like bowls.
"We're bowlers first and foremost rather than athletes."
Belliss himself, understandably, has no definite plans for his future though he believes that eventually he will return to New Zealand, probably to Wanganui.
As for bowls, he's looking forward to playing again within a few weeks with Brassey at a pairs tournament on Australia's Sunshine Coast and at a fours event at Wellington's Eastbourne club at Easter.
He hasn't ruled out defending his title with Goodwin, Posa and Robinson at next year's nationals in Wellington.
Belliss remains a supporter of the nationals despite the declining number of entries of recent years.
"As long ago as the 70s and 80s they were wondering about their future but as long as the quality is still there they have a place," he said.
