Claire Wilson: Best form of her life

CHAMP: Claire Wilson will represent New Zealand women's team at the petanque world championships in Bangkok in November. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

MASTERTON petanque player Claire Wilson has capped off a memorable season by being named in the New Zealand women's team to contest the world championships in Bangkok in November.

Titles have come thick and fast, among them the national women's triples and the Wellington women's singles, doubles and triples, and she has been named Wellington Petanque Association's Female Player of the Year.

Even Wilson finds it hard to put her finger on why she is in the best form of a stellar career which has seen her represent New Zealand on 13 occasions, including at world championships in Turkey in 2011 and France in 2013 and at Oceania and Pan Pacific championships too.

"Honestly I don't know, I guess it's just been a case of everything clicking for me," she said. "It's not that I've been doing anything different than what I've done before."

A founding member of the Masterton Petanque Club just over 20 years ago, Wilson has seen that organisation grow to the point where it is regarded as the leading club in the Wellington region.

She is one of several Wairarapa players to represent New Zealand and says the competition within the Masterton club, which has its headquarters in Queen Elizabeth Park, played a part in her development.

"When you are playing against some of the best players in the country on a weekly basis you soon learn the skills and techniques necessary to do well in this sport," she said.

"It's a great environment here, as good as you could get for anyone thinking about taking up the game."

Wilson rates the ability to hold concentration as being one of the main attributes in petanque and says it is a more tactical sport than the observer might think.

"It's a bit like outdoor bowls in a way in that you have to vary the shots you play to suit the situation. You have to keep your wits about you."

Looking forward to Bangkok, Wilson says New Zealand will not be rated highly against the 40-odd nations competing with the Europeans and Asians sure to make their usual powerful impact.

"Petanque is really big in those countries and we're pretty much still the new kids on the block compared to them," she said.

"It would be nice to think we could make the top 16. That would be something really special for us."

Wilson will play the triples for New Zealand along with Christine Strichen of Wanganui and Sharon Cannon of Napier. They are a proven combination, having won the national women's triples this season and finished runners-up in the national open triples as well.