Sport
25 March, 2026
Locals claim Trans-Tasman Pétanque Cup
Moyston’s Trevor Keilar and Halls Gap’s Tim Shaw have helped Australia secure victory in the Trans-Tasman Pétanque Cup, held in Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula on March 21 and 22.
The annual event sees Australia’s top pétanque players face off against their New Zealand counterparts, with hosting duties alternating between the two nations each year. The competition is regarded as one of the premier events on the Australasian pétanque calendar.
Keilar and Shaw represented the Grampians Petanque Club in the 60+ division, competing in both doubles and triples formats across the two-day tournament. Their performances contributed to a strong overall showing by the Australian side.
For Keilar, the tournament marked his fourth consecutive appearance at the Trans-Tasman Cup, with his record now standing at two wins and two losses.
“It was absolutely magnificent to win,” Keilar said.
“Last year New Zealand gave us a real thumping, and they came over again with a very strong side, so we knew they were going to be hard to beat.”
The contest was tightly fought early, with both teams evenly matched through the opening rounds on Saturday. However, Australia managed to edge ahead later in the day, taking a six-point lead into Sunday.
“It was pretty even for the first couple of rounds,” Keilar said.
“After that, we managed to get a break on them."
Australia maintained its momentum on the final day, extending its advantage and ultimately doing enough to secure a convincing victory.
“We kicked away and put our foot down when it mattered,” Keilar said.
The Grampians Pétanque Club, which Keilar and Shaw proudly represent, currently boasts around 30 members and continues to grow in popularity within the region.
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