On the hunt for Top Town team

NATASHA MARTIN/Timaru Herald

PREPARE TO HAVE FUN: Intelligent athletes of all shapes and sizes are needed to trial for Timaru's proposed Top Town team. Timaru mayor Janie Annear (left) and world champion speedskater Nicole Begg show Steve Kotua you need a sense of humour too.

Relevant offers

TIMARU is again hoping to be New Zealand's Top Town.

The popular television show is making a return in December and Mayor Janie Annear wants Timaru to again become champions.

Fifteen towns are invited to compete and Timaru will be holding a public trial next Wednedsay at Alpine Energy Stadium, starting at 6pm.

Each town will have a team compromising 12 members, along with their own cheer squads, supporters and their mascots.

Janie competed in Timaru's successful team that won the Top Town twice in the eighties and remembers it fondly.

"It's lots of fun but team work and intelligence are as important as brute strength."

This time the teams will compete in a variety of games over eight consecutive days while being filmed.

But there are some rules and each team must be divided into weight divisions with four lightweight (under 75 kg), four middleweight (under 90 kg) and four heavyweight (over 90kg) contestants, half men and half women and they must be aged over 18.

Timaru Top Town team organisers will also be on the lookout for people interested in being cheerleaders, possibly both male and female, a team name and ideas for a mascot.

The pressure is on because the television production company needs the team confirmed by the end of the week.

They are also keen that key players in each team will be people that viewers can identify with and have the character to entertain as well as compete in the games.

World champion speedskater Nicole Begg has already signed up and Olympic cyclist Marc Ryan is also a possibility.

Wednesday's trial is open to teams of six, three men and three women, but individuals are also welcome to come along and will be put in teams by the organisers on the night.

Those selected in the Timaru team will have to be available for filming, which will be held in Christchurch from Wednesday, November 27 to Thursday, December 4 as well as help with some fundraising activities.

A meeting is also being held on Monday night at the Timaru District Council chambers at 7pm for people interested in being involved in team management, fundraising and helping run Wednesday's trial.

- © Fairfax NZ News