Aucklander Rodney Mills won the singles title. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
It has been Wacky Wednesday today at the National Indoor Bowls Championship being played out in New Plymouth this week.
That meant many ditched the club polo for a cape and tights, makeup or fancy wig.
More than 500 bowlers from around the country have descended on New Plymouth to compete across four disciplines at the sport's blue ribbon event.
Former New Zealand representative Grant Rayner said indoor bowls - which was played on a mat 1.8 metres wide by about 7 metres long - was a more precise version of its outdoor cousin.
"Basically it's the same principles you take your green and you draw as close to that white ball as you can.
"If the ball goes off the mat it doesn't count. If the jack goes off the mat it's a penalty whereas in outdoor you can take that jack into the ditch. It's longer, it's bigger, the bowls are bigger and the games take longer obviously in outdoor.
"These are quick, you know, we've got 45 minute games today over 10 ends."
Former international bowler Grant Rayner. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The game can get physical.
"Yeah, like you can play a pretty heavy shot and the bowls can go everywhere. So, you've just got to let everyone know you're going to have a drive and can you catch my bowls when they leave the mat because there's going to be several going all over the place. So, that's pretty exciting times."
If that did not get your blood pumping there was always Wacky Wednesday.
"It introduces a bit of fun to the event I guess and some teams dress up and they're vying for a bar of chocolate, which I think is the prize, I'm not too sure.
"I think it's just a bit of fun and some teams like to dress up and Simon Poppleton won this year and he always goes the full hog and dressed up.
"This year he's the Joker and he's done a stellar job at that."
Simon Poppleton aka the Joker. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
RNZ caught up with the Aucklander just as his triples team was about start its next match.
"My outfit is the Joker. So, we have the Wacky Wednesday and we like to have a bit of fun with it and I have some lovely people who do my makeup for me which is great because it's obviously very difficult to do."
He was not worried about upsetting his opposition.
"Oh, I think they quite enjoy it. Sometimes they're laughing quite a bit when we're playing them which is good. So, that might help to put them off, optimistically."
Taranaki's Andrew Smith was up against the Joker and his super hero team mates.
He was not in costume.
"No, we're not. Just because we were poorly organised, didn't organise anything in advance."
Not that Smith was gonna let his be-costumed opponents put him off his game.
He said he did not find the Joker's crew distracting.
"Not for me, no. I mean I'm here for a bit of fun, so I just think it adds to the fun of the day."
Mesha White, Dan Lowe and Nikita Blair. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Poppy's team mate Rodney Mills, who was clad as Superman, took home his first national title in singles on Sunday.
He said indoor bowls was a game for everyone.
"You know, there's a lot of serious competition. There's a lot of various people it doesn't matter how old you are, how big you are, how small you are. Everyone could be a real dynamite player."
Aucklander Nikita Blair's team also got into the spirit of Wacky Wednesday.
At 19, she was among the youngest competitors.
Nikita said there were benefits to playing sport with an older demographic.
"I enjoy it everyone's really nice and lovely. With the younger ones there's always stuff going on with the younger ones. There's not much going on here, so it's nice and quieter I guess."
The National Indoor Bowls Championship wraps up on Saturday.
