Women off south, with butterflies

For the multiple-time Wanganui bowler of the year it will all be old hat, but for the three women from Wanganui East the butterflies are in season.

Wanganui will be represented in both the singles and triples competitions over the next week at the national club championships in Invercargill.

Wanganui Bowling Club's Ray Park returns to contest the singles crown tomorrow and Sunday. He faces champions from clubs in Onehunga, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Canterbury and Dunedin, who also won their local opens and then the regionals.

The winner will earn the right to play in an upcoming tournament in Malaysia.

But also heading to the deep south for the first time at nationals are the three women from Wanganui East - Claire Ellen, Maria Klitcher and Sadie Head.

Starting in March, after winning the Wanganui open they were victorious in the regionals against the Kapiti, Taranaki and Wellington champions.

In Invercargill, they face triples from Carlton Cornwall (Auckland), Manurewa (Counties), Beckenham (Christchurch) and Waikiwi (Southland).

While understandably a little anxious, Ellen said they will be all right "when we get there".

"If you're not nervous, you shouldn't be there."

Head said as the green in Invercargill was indoor carpet variety, they have practised at the Wanganui club as well as Wanganui East. That includes games against a men's triple.

"The butterflies start fluttering, but it's all right," she said.

The triples are from June 25-26.