Written by Wayne Martin for Nelson Mail 

Richmond’s Max Nalder now gets to test his credentials on the national stage following his history-making efforts this season on the Nelson bowls scene.

Last month, 17-year-old Nalder has become the first college student to win a Bowls Nelson champion of champions crown after claiming both the junior men’s singles and pairs titles. And this weekend he’s been selected as the Nelson men’s singles representative at the National Under 8s Intercentre tournament starting in Christchurch on Friday.

The National Under 8s Intercentre is a recent addition to the Bowls NZ events calendar and follows the same structure as the National Intercentre with entry open to all 27 centres throughout New Zealand. Eligibility includes any affiliated club players with less than eight years’ playing experience.

Joining Nalder in the men’s team are the Nelson club pairs combination of Warren Burrows and Gareth Caldwell, with Stoke’s Dean Wood skipping the four of Hank Nalder (Richmond), Tony Eames (Wakefield) and Peter Sisterson (Wakefield).

Nelson will compete in section two at the Parklands club alongside Far North, Canterbury, Northland, Kapiti Coast and Manawatu.

Nelson women’s singles player Linda Erasmus (United) and pairs skip Barbara Thomason (Stoke) will be attempting to progress further in Christchurch after being part of the Nelson women’s team that made a quarterfinal exit at the recent National Intercentre in Wellington.

Thomason is joined by Wakefield’s Di Holland in the pairs, while Motueka’s Sheryl Riordan will skip the four of Wakefield’s Linda Sisterson, Ngawhatu’s Cherry Rainger and United’s Lorraine Arnold.

Nelson’s section one opponents at the Centre club are Northland, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Far North, their section also including a bye.

Burnside will host the final two days of competition in both the men’s and women’s events.

Nelson men – singles: Max Nalder; pairs: Warren Burrows, Gareth Caldwell; fours: Dean Wood, Hank Nalder, Tony Eames, Peter Sisterson.

Nelson women – singles: Linda Erasmus; pairs: Barbara Thomason, Di Holland; fours: Sheryl Riordan, Linda Sisterson, Cherry Rainger, Lorraine Arnold.