World champion Tom Walsh to host shot put event in hometown Timaru

Kiwi shot put world champion Tom Walsh has been handed the best of both worlds with Athletics New Zealand's rejigged international series, and he's already pumped about playing host to the world's best in his own backyard.

The national body has put together a five-event programme for 2018 and moved it to March to dovetail with April's Commonwealth Games, which it is hoped will attract a higher quality of athlete as they use the events in their leadup to Gold Coast. Already the Canadian team has indicated they will send a sitnificant group, and it's hoped other countries will follow suit.

The now annual Big Shot will return to Walsh's resident city of Christchurch on March 16, but it will be preceded by a new event, the Timaru Super Shot, to be staged in the champion athlete's home town on March 14.

The Timaru event will be staged at the Caroline Bay Soundshell and Walsh is particularly thrilled to be taking big-time shot to Timaru, where he will compete for the first time since the 2011-12 period.

"It's awesome to be taking a shot put competition of a very high level with tons of international throwers down to Timaru, and we're also putting a lot of other events on. There will be a kids fun run, a women's shot, and a local celebrity shot. So it will be a huge community event, and hopefully the Timaru people will support it."

Read the article in full in the Timaru Herald