Ex-champ Belliss new Hall of Famer

Wanganui bowler Peter Belliss (left) and Phillip Skoglund were recognised at the Bowls NZ Hall of Fame in Auckland on Saturday night. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Wanganui bowler Peter Belliss MBE has been lifted to the status of a living legend as an inaugural inductee into the brand new Bowls NZ Hall of Fame.

In a ceremony at Auckland's Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre on Saturday night, former world champion Belliss was recognised as one of 36 inductees, 27 being athletes and the final nine individuals selected for outstanding achievements in supporting the sport.

More than that, Belliss was named among five elite players to be called Kiwi Bowling Legends immortalising those competitors who mastered the green during the first 100 years of the sport in this country.

Belliss was named along with Millie Khan MBE and Phil Skoglund OBE as legends of the 1975-1999 era.

"In the new golden age of bowls, Peter Belliss is a living legend that has represented his country more than 40 times, but has remained a committed member of the Aramoho Bowling Club throughout his career," reads the report.

"Belliss has transferred his own World Bowls gold medal successes experiences into his current role as assistant coach for the Blackjacks."

Along with multiple national championships, Belliss won the World Bowls singles title in 1984, the pairs in 1988, and the triples in 2000.

He was also a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in 1982 (singles) and 1994 (fours).