Mayor Tim Shadbolt and Tom Scully

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt is teaming up with international cycling star Tom Scully to compete at the 2010 Southland Uni Games.

But there won't be any lycra in sight - the pair are gunning for the indoor bowls title as members of the Southern Institute of Technology team.

Mr Shadbolt said he was looking forward to being part of the action.

"Now that I'm 63, my old rugby injuries are catching up with me, so I decided to engage in the more sedate sport of bowls," he said.

"I was once the Under-12 champion of my local Baptist Church Youth Club so I'm hoping muscle memory will kick in."

Scully has certainly taken the cycling world by storm recently, but bowls also features on his sporting resume. A keen bowler throughout high school, he's confident the partnership with Mr Shadbolt will prove successful.

While Scully's immediate focus is on the looming World Cycling Championships in Denmark, he plans to resume practice with Mr Shadbolt on his return to ensure they are a formidable duo ready to tackle opponents from other tertiary institutes around the country at the Uni Games, to be staged in Invercargill from April 13-16. SIT team manager Tracy Simpson said it was the first time the institute had been represented at the Uni Games and its southern-most competitors were shaping up well.

"SIT is looking forward to having a strong team of over 100 at the Games, including the likes of Eddie Dawkins, Tom Scully and, of course, Mayor Tim," she said.

"I'm confident this will be the first year of plenty to come." Scully and Mr Shadbolt both study via the SIT2LRN distance learning programme, allowing them to study online around their hectic schedules. Southland is nationally recognised for hosting a high standard of sporting events with its world-class facilities. Stadium Southland will be the hub of the 2010 Games, housing the Games HQ as well as hosting components of the social programme and several sporting events, including track cycling in the ILT Velodrome.

Other key venues being utilised include Bluff Hill, ILT Hockey Turf, Rugby Park, Splash Palace, Turnbull Thompson Park, Queens Park, and the Waihopai Tennis Club. For more information about the Southland Uni Games, check out www.southlandunigames.co.nz.