A classic pastime is getting its own national championship. 

The Stone Skimming Nationals will be held next May at Lake Hāwea, with the winners heading on to the World Championship in Scotland. 

Around 150 people are expected to compete, with more than 100 spectating the event.  

Lake Hāwea Station’s Tourism Manager Richie Lang told Heather du Plessis-Allan originally there wasn’t a huge amount of interest in hosting the event, but then a cheating scandal at the World Stone Skimming Championships came around and put the sport on the world map.  

After that, he said, they thought it was time to strike.  

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