PALMERSTON NORTH, New Zealand (16 June, 2017)
The eggceptional team at Williment Travel has joined the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games as a sponsor and is sending the New Zealand 2017 Two Egg Throw & Catch Champions off to the UK to compete against the world’s best.
In March this year, the pride of Christchurch’s Nick Hornstein and his cousin, Dairy Flat’s rising star, Robbie Hollander took the New Zealand eggthrowing community by storm winning the 2017 title after having been runnersup in 2016 and performing admirably in 2015.
27yearold Nick says, unfortunately, egg throwing doesn’t attract the funding of rugby, so they created a Givealittle page to raise funds to take on the world.
With just under $1,721 raised, it looked like the duo aspirations would be thwarted. However, Williment Travel have agreed to fund the remaining monies to get Aotearoa’s premier Egg Thrower & Catcher to Swaton – the home of egg throwing.
“My ultimate goal is to ‘crack’ the World Record of 76.27m. Having the support from Williment Travel as well as the support from numerous others is truly humbling and provides me with the motivation to bring home a world record for New Zealand.”
The 12th World Egg Throwing Championships are on 25 June, and the heats start at 2pm, all going well they’ll be in the finals at 4pm……and New Zealand will hopefully wake up to the news that our Champs are indeed World Champs!
Our fearless duo will be up against competing egg throwers and catchers from around the world. The current world record stands at 76.27m.
That’s just 6m shy of an unofficial throw by Nick and catch by Robbie.
“We are a young pairing,” says Robbie, “I know we can bring home a world record.”
In 2016, the duo threw a remarkable 63.1m knocking out Jeff Wilson and Justin Marshall’s New Zealand record. However, it was not to be, as the 2016 Champs, Brent Newdick and Luke Wainui beat them by 30cm.
“Nick says the goal is to win big and put New Zealand egg throwing and catching on the map. With their consistent success, Nick expects bigger and better things in 2018 at the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games in Palmerston North.”
Meet Our Champions
Chief Tosser/CoCaptain: Doubling as a corporate lawyer, Nick Hornstein is a selfproclaimed amateur sports champion. Nick is the veteran partner of the two egg throw and catch champions, and he draws on his sporting experience to guide the team to greater heights. His sporting prowess has been significant – winning New Zealand titles in tennis and playing New Zealand Koru basketball in his junior days. Nick has never been far away from the action, having worked with Hawkeye Innovations following the professional tennis circuit at the Hopman Cup in Perth, APIA International in Sydney, the Australian Open in Melbourne, the Open 13 in Marseille, the Fed Cup in Slovakia and the 2012 London Olympics.
Chief Catcher/Moisturiser Specialist/CoCaptain: 18yearold Robbie Hollander is the catching member of the team and attributes his soft hands and technique to his early years of playing cricket and softball. In his last year at Orewa College, he lives on a lifestyle farm at Dairy Flat with his family. He has represented North Harbour at hockey since the age of 12 and is presently in the U18 side preparing for tournament. His other interests are quad bike racing, snow skiing and downhill mountain biking.
The duo have competed at the Hilux NZ Rural Games in the NZ Egg Throwing & Catching Championship for the last three years finishing with a creditable 40m throw and catch in 2015 and a very close 2nd in 2016 after breaking the NZ record with a throw and catch of 63.3m.
“I’m so grateful to everyone, Williment Travel for their sponsorship and my family and friends who have assisted me with funding my journey and the NZ Egg Industry – everyone who has supported both Nick and I on our quest to win the World Championship.
Williment Travel was founded back in 1967 by former All Black fullback Mick Williment. Leaving a 50year legacy (that’s still going strong), we send Kiwis on sports & travel adventures around the world. With our huge range of events enticing thousands of passionate fans, we’re thrilled to sponsor an entertaining, yet skilful event in 2017.
Williment Travel General Manager Adair Cameron first saw Robbie and Nick win the NZ Egg Throwing & Catching Championship at the Hilux NZ Rural Games earlier this year.
“We are certain they have the goods to poach the World Title for NZ,” she says. “Supporting local Kiwi sports is important to both us and the community, and we anticipate their deft skills to be eggsceptional!”
