Pixie Blake, 9, holding the Champion of Champions trophy. Photo: SUPPLIED
A nine-year-old has become Waikato's youngest indoor bowls champion, as part of trio.
Becoming the youngest person to ever win a title in Waikato, Pixie Blake's team mates are a few decades older than she is.
The trio took out the title at the Champion of Champions tournament in Hamilton at the weekend.
Pixie told Checkpoint when she first decided to try out the game, it wasn't what she had expected.
"My friends came over and they said that they were doing indoor bowls and I wanted to try it out and see what it was like because I thought it was ten pin bowling."
Despite the mix up, indoor bowls became a fast favourite for Pixie.
"I like how it's just fun... it makes me feel happy."
When it comes to game strategies, Pixie's competitive streak played a big role.
"I would really like to win it, as most of us would, and I just need to focus on what I'm doing."
Pixie's team of three consists of herself alongside team-mates Richard Caddy and Stefan Middleton, who Pixie said are "a bit" older then her.
"Maybe 40... or 30?"
Pixie Blake and her team-mates Richard Caddy, left, and Stefan Middleton, right. Photo: SUPPLIED
Pixie said the trio's win would be sealed with her name on a trophy, which will be displayed at the St Andrews Bowling hall.
Following the win, there's still plenty to look forward to.
"I'm looking forward to playing the aims games when I go to intermediate... but right now I play just indoor bowls nightclub and sometimes I play at the junior club that we made at Saint Andrews, and junior club is pretty fun too."
And despite a broken arm, Pixie said her bowling ability hadn't been affected.
"Luckily I can bowl on my other arm, which is my right arm... and it's getting better."
As for anyone who's considering taking up the sport, Pixie said it's worth a go no matter your age.
"You definitely should give it a try... it's very fun.
"You just have to know you might lose sometimes, but you also might win and that would be very exciting.
"You need to know you're not alone when you do it, because there's lots of other players that can do bad bowls, so you're not alone."
Sport holds an important place in Pixie's family, her older sister Isla was a New Zealand rowing champion, and her other sister, as well as a Pixie herself, are both netball players.
Also a keen dancer and singer, Pixie said she doesn't often perform her moves on the bowling green, but she does keep herself entertained during the game with a song or two in her head.
"[I'm thinking about] Sabrina Carpenter songs."
Pixie said she celebrated her big win with dinner at KFC, a fitting end to the momentous day.
"It was pretty fun, as the saying is... winner winner chicken dinner."
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