12 November 2012
Manu Vatuvei Takes on the Striking Viking!
This weekend saw Manu Vatuvei take on ‘The Striking Viking’, world pool champion Ewa Mataya Laurance, hot from the USA.
Laurance was the headline act at The MOTHER Fuelled Backyard Pool Challenge at this year’s Big Boys’ Toys and took part
in a celebrity match with Warriors team mates Shaun Johnson, who teamed up with Laurance to take on Vatuvei and New
Zealand’s own snooker legend, Dene O’Kane. It was a close competition that saw Vatuvei/O’Kane take the lead early on,
only to be trumped at the last minute by Johnson/Laurance who claimed victory in the celebrity match.
MOTHER brought to life the giant 6M x 3M lawn pool table made famous in its TV ads for Big Boys’ Toys audiences to see
and experience, while ‘The Striking Viking’ performed exhibition matches and master classes with Dene O’Kane throughout
the weekend.
Punters have also had the chance to participate in competitive heats throughout the weekend, counting down to the
exciting finale between one lucky competitor and The Striking Viking herself that will take place on Sunday.
Swedish-born Laurance is one of America’s hottest female pool stars and, aside from being the current World Cup and
International Trick Shot Champion, has also graced the cover of New York Times Magazine and been featured in numerous
high-profile publications, including Forbes and People Magazine.
Laurance has been thrilled to headline The Mother Fuelled Backyard Pool Challenge, the event marking her first trip to
New Zealand.
“I have absolutely loved taking part in such a fun, dynamic pool event in a country I have dreamt of visiting! New
Zealand has always been on my bucket list and it’s been an amazing trip. Kiwis are so friendly! I can honestly say I’ve
never played on a 6M x 3M table, let alone a lawn pool table, so this has been an awesome and fun challenge!”
- Ends –