Despite battling a gastro bug for most of the weekend, Australian heavy-hitter Aaron Wilson was in devastating form as he coasted to the prestigious 27th North East Valley 10,000 Invitational Singles title over Labour weekend, pocketing $5000 in the process and cementing his reputation as one of the world's most watched singles exponents. 

Building from the back of the inaugural Everest Singles victory, in which he captured a giant $A50k winners' purse, Wilson, better known as Disco was keen to impress this side of the ditch  selected along with former international Nathan Rice (Helensvale) to fly the flag for Australia in what has widely been known as one of the premier Blue Ribbon Singles events worldwide. 

And once again the Australian's gave it everything, with Wilson (Clayton B.C) becoming the fourth Jackaroo to cross the Tasman shores and grasp victory from a star-studded field  bettering his previous performance in 2015, where he finished runner-up behind fellow Australian squad member Brett Wilkie.

 Following an action-packed schedule of seven rounds over three days, section qualifiers were soon found at the completion of play on Saturday, among the last standing to be double world champion Gary Lawson (Eastbourne), former New Zealand internationals Jamie Hill, Shaun Scott, Broadbeach based Canadian Ryan Bester, Australian reps Aaron Wilson, Nathan Rice, and New Zealand Blackjacks Shannon McIlroy (Stoke) and reigning champion Mike Kernaghan (NEV). 

An impressive title charge from both McIlroy and Kernaghan came to an end for McIlroy in the first post-section clash, with Kernaghan getting the better of his opponent 25-23 in a gripping encounter, and ending all hopes of a record fourth victory for McIlroy. 

Kernaghan's quest for four also came crashing down in the quarter-finals, with Bester comfortably dispatching last year's winner 25-14 in clinical fashion. 

In other results, Scott defeated Eastbourne's Justin Goodwin, Rice put paid to Birkenhead's Tony Grantham and Wilson stopped Hill in his tracks 25-15. 

Consistent rain and surface water made playing conditions particularly tough throughout, though players continued to battle the elements in the semi-finals with Wilson's purple patch of form showing no signs of slowing, accounting for Rice 25-18, while Bester edged past Scott 25-23 to setup a thrilling finale prospect on the Valley greens. 

But once again, Wilson proved unstoppable up against the World Bowls singles silver medallist, keeping Bester at bay at every opportunity with his precision draw display. Despite Bester's finest attempts to keep himself in the fixture with his uncanny driving ability, Wilson weathered the storm and raced out to a 25-15 victory in a record final time for the event conclusion. 

Wilson will now join all past winners in the Valley clubrooms, with a unique caricature depicting his personality as the 2017 Speights North East Valley 10,000 champion. 

 Results at a Glance 27th Speights North East Valley 10,000 Invitational Singles North East Valley, Dunedin 

Final: Wilson bt Bester; 25-15

Semi-final: Bester bt Scott; 25-23 Wilson bt Rice; 25-18

Quarter-final: Ryan Bester (Broadbeach) bt Mike Kernaghan (NEV); 25-14 Shaun Scott (NEV) bt Justin Goodwin (Eastbourne); 25-13 Nathan Rice (Helensvale) bt Tony Grantham (Birkenhead) 25-18 Aaron Wilson (Clayton) bt Jamie Hill (Counties Manukau); 25-15