Hayden Meikle

Greatness has been on my mind in recent weeks.

New Zealand Open promoter Bob Tuohy has cast further doubt on the chances of the tournament returning to The Hills in the immediate future.

All Mike Hesson wants for a late Christmas present is some Central Otago sun and a breakthrough Otago victory.

Those pondering the makeup of the new Otago coaching team might want to keep Mike Brewer's name in the back of their minds.

It takes a foolish man to predict all the major winners in sport in 2011. Sports editor Hayden Meikle knows he is that man. Here are his optimistic - and pessimistic - visions of the year ahead.

Otago players dominate a mythical team of rugby-playing New Zealand doctors named in the British Medical Journal this month.

Dunedin is in line to host the next generation of superstars following New Zealand's bid to host the world under-20 championship in 2015.

Two former All Blacks, a New Zealand Maori lock, an ex-Waitakian, some colts and a rookie English first five-eighth.

Dunedin public ticket sales for the 2011 Rugby World Cup are the highest of the provincial centres, except Hamilton.

Many things are not worth a long wait - the dentist, Barry Manilow's greatest hits, every four years when the All Blacks blow a World Cup.

It was the year of big, bigger and best as the gaming industry rebounded from a somewhat lacklustre 2009. Hayden Meikle hands out his awards for 2010.

Christmas came early for Waverley on Saturday as the battling club picked up its first win of the senior men's season. Waverley pipped Ellis Park 6-3 for the perfect end to the calendar year.

They are the men in charge of a rugby union that, like others, is batting for financial stability and on-field success. But Wayne Graham and Richard Reid remain confident fallen giant Otago is finally heading in the right direction. Sports editor Hayden Meikle reports.

He spins, he turns, he bowls maidens over. Welcome to the life of retired cricket genius, and Australia's favourite rogue, Shane Keith Warne. Sports editor Hayden Meikle imagines what a week in the life of Warnie would be like.

Oamaru's Lanah Craik will take an unbeaten run into the semifinals of the national schools championships in Dunedin today.