Softball: Man with two missions

By JULIE ASH

Black Sox infielder Clayton Willocks enjoys a challenge. So it should come as no surprise he is struggling to contain his excitement as he counts down to two of the biggest challenges of his life.

First up is the world softball championships, then in April, as a member of the Air Force, he heads to Israel for 12 months on a peacekeeping mission.

Willocks, 30, will act as a military observer for the UN.

"I'll get posted to a certain area and will drive around, talk to the locals and keep an eye on what is going on.

"It is perfect timing for me given that the next world series is five years away [because of the Olympics]. This will be my eighth year in the Black Sox so I am quite happy to put it on the back burner for a while and do something completely different."

But before he heads to Israel, there is the small matter of helping the Black Sox defend their world title.

Willocks was a member of the side that won in 2000 and remembers well the joy of winning.

"I remember there were a lot of tears and a lot of hugs. A lot of relief and elation.

"There is a bond between the guys that were there which will never be broken.

"I look back at the sacrifices made to get there. You'd given up all this time with your family and friends, all your weekends - but the feeling you get when you win makes those sacrifices insignificant.

"I'd sacrifice 10 times more to have that feeling again."

But unlike 2000, when the Black Sox romped through the tournament losing just one game, Willocks expects it to be a little tougher this time around.

"In 2000 there were a couple of teams that we beat by more than 20 runs. That may happen again but really we are not expecting easy games.

"We knew we had to raise the bar and there are a number of things we are doing differently.

"We are sitting down and talking through things a lot more.

"I think each player understands their role a lot more in depth this time and everyone else's role in the team."

"We have done things which I think have made me better prepared this time."

Born in Balclutha, Willocks was five when he started playing softball.

His first representative team was the South Otago under-14s. Since then it is hard to find a province he has not represented.

"While at high school in Invercargill I made the Southland men's team. Then I joined the Air Force and have played in most provinces since - Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, Wellington, Hawkes Bay and North Harbour.

"Every time I have moved with the Air Force I have had to change sides."

The turning point in his career came in the 1996 when he received the Jimmy Cotter Memorial trophy for New Zealand's emerging player of the year. "I had a look at the names on the trophy and every single person had gone on and played for New Zealand.

"I sort of thought I don't want to be the only one to win the trophy and not go on."

A year later he made his debut for New Zealand and has been a regular since.

"As a kid I used to watch the All Blacks do the haka and it would make me shiver and almost bring a tear to my eye - it still does.

"I am pretty passionate about pulling on the New Zealand top, having the silver fern on my hat, having the national anthem played and doing the haka."

His family will travel to Christchurch from Dunedin to watch him in the tournament.

"I know that we are going to play well," Willocks said.

"The culture and spirit within the team, having that home support and wanting to do it at home is what is going to carry us through."