"Bring it" – Ashburton champ's message to rivals

By Julie Moffett, Ashburton Guardian
Reproduced with permission

Ashburton’s two-time New Zealand Highland Games champion Craig Manson has his rivals in his sights in an invitational power event at the Te Anau Tartan Festival.

Manson is one of seven of New Zealand’s strongest men and women, who will compete in Te Anau this Friday and Saturday.

They’re lining up in what has been called an invitational Highland Games showdown – and it’s getting serious.

“Those other guys coming to Te Anau better bring it because I'm bringing the full package," Manson said.

The invitational competitors will use championship-grade weights and equipment, which means the cabers will be between 5m and 6m long, while the farmer’s walk will see them carrying up to 65kg – in each hand.

Two highland games disciplines not previously seen at Te Anau – the stone put and weight over bar – will also be added for the elite competitors.

Manson feels confident about all the disciplines, but the caber toss is his favourite.

"It's also the scariest, which is why I think I enjoy it the most,’’ he said.

"You don't really think about it when you're doing it. Then you'll see photos afterwards and realise the size of the caber. It really is a feat of strength.

"I've got a good chance of winning that."

Manson, who was the winner of the recent New Zealand gumboot throwing championship, will have Danny “Cage’’ Devine, from Kurow, as one of his competitors in Te Anau. Devine is the shepherd, who in 2004 carried the 80kg merino, Shrek, from the hill he’d been hiding out in for six years.