Vern Mardon says he isn’t a big gambler, but it might be financially prudent for him to reconsider.
Vern has just won the Nelson Weekly Super Rugby tipping competition to go with his three Mitre 10 Cup tipping wins. The competition features around a dozen local businesspeople with their tips for each game featuring in each edition of the Weekly.
For Vern, this year’s Super Rugby win was his first for that competition, but he usually finishes in the top three of either competition.
He says he was delighted to win the Super Rugby competition. “This one means a lot, I really wanted this one.”
Vern is well known in Nelson’s sporting scene for his contribution to athletics but he says he is also a keen rugby follower.
“I’ve always kept a close eye on rugby results and, although I’ve been in Nelson for 40 years, I’m still a Taranaki boy.”
He says he takes the tipping competition seriously, reading articles and looking at past results. “I look at it very analytically. I try to take the emotion out of it.”
So, as a master tipper, who does Vern think will win this year’s competition? Ironically, the two teams he has an emotional attachment to.
“I think the Makos will be very good this year and Taranaki, I’m hearing very good things about them. I’d be delighted if they did well again, it was fantastic to see those two teams in the final a couple of years ago. Great for the provinces.”
He says he’s definitely signed up for the Mitre 10 Cup tipping competition which starts next week.
“It’s the best form of advertising I’ve ever done. People talk to me on the street about it and come up to me. For the small cost each week it’s definitely been a good thing,” says the insurance broker.
