2018 Sport Stacking Nationals in Whanganui

Robert Eaglestone and Joel Potter, both 13 and Connor Savea, 11, having fun in the Cullinane College during the National Sport Stacking Championships on Saturday.

Marton's Caleb Arthur lived up to his favouritism after finishing first overall in the experienced category at the National Sport Stacking Championships on Saturday.

Whanganui was hosting the nationals for the second year in a row, with 41 entries coming to the hall at Cullinane College.

Feeling confident during the morning warmups, Arthur was competing in the 19-24 Men's Division and ultimately posted the quickest time in 9.598s, ahead of Wellington College's Nathan Carter by 0.124s, with Auckland's Joel Potter in third.

Marton's Caleb Arthur, left, and the rest of the Top 5.

Whanganui's Jasmine Anthony, a previous national title holder and two-time veteran of World Championships, was also getting back into it on her home turf and was the best woman, finishing seventh overall while competing in the 17-18 Women's Division.

Jasmine Anthony age 17 and mother Tracey Anderson

Also making the Top 10 were Kristina Jones and Mason Whiti in ninth and tenth respectively for 11-12 year olds, following Anthony's footsteps from St Mary's School, while Arthur's siblings Brontie and Blair were 11th and 12th respectively.

The rest of the Top 10 was made up of visitors from Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Wellington.

St Mary's students, and staff, made up the entirety of the novice division, which was won by Taliah Pollero in 18.062s, ahead of Isaiah Hughes in runnerup and Marina Cosford in third.

Arthur, along with Whanganui's Harry Hawtree, 14th overall at nationals, have been named in the 2019 New Zealand Black Stacks team who can attend the World Sport Stacking Championships in Spain, although stackers bear their own costs to take part.