Boyd relishes chance to take on best

IT was a tough introduction in his first appearance at the

North East Valley Invitational Singles for Kaikoura’s Josh Boyd, but it was one to treasure.

Facing Commonwealth Games champion Aaron Wilson, of Australia, in the first round was little compared to life after the earthquakes two years ago for the Whale Watch tour guide.

Before the earthquakes, Boyd (25) was on top of his game, winning the Marlborough

Centre champion of champion singles in 2015 and the centre pairs title with Warren Brown, a representative of the Awatere club in Seddon.

But following the earthquake Boyd said he was ‘‘shut out’’ and could not travel out for competition.

‘‘That set me back, unfortunately. But all roads are open now, so I can play bowls in Blenheim once again.’’

Boyd said that despite not being able to travel out of Kaikoura for competition, the earthquake left him relatively unscathed with just damage to ‘‘stuff that’s all replaceable.

‘‘Nah. We’re all good. It kept us busy. The community came together and it was good to see.’’

As for marking his return to topflight competition yesterday, Boyd was pleased just to be back mixing it up.

‘‘Hard start firstup, but hopefully it will improve,’’ he said of his 2516 defeat at the hands of defending champion Wilson.

In his second match of the day, Boyd beat Peter Thorn (Auckland) 2518.

‘‘I’ve always wanted to play in this, so when I got my opportunity I wasn’t going to let it go,’’ Boyd said.

Boyd, who began playing bowls as a 10yearold with the Takahanga Club in Kaikoura, has also played a a variety of other sports over the years including rugby and golf.

He represented Marlborough at agegroup level as a prop and played golf with a handicap of 16.

Such was his teenage sporting prowess in bowls,

Boyd also won the national secondary schools pairs title with Tu Solomon in 2008.

While his rugby days are now a distant memory, he quipped that he was the ‘‘biggest firstfive you’ll ever see’’.

He is also proud of the fact he even ‘‘slotted a few goals’’.

Marking a return to golf recently over the winter months, he lowered his handicap to nine.

Apart from bowls, a priority for the immediate future is to gain his skipper’s certificate he is sitting for Whale Watch.

‘‘I’m loving it. It’s a great job and a great office,’’ he said of his role with Whale Watch.