Lotto shock for couple

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 3

Lotto shock for couple

PA Wellington A Palmerston North couple who tried to claim a minor prize in last week-end’s Lotto draw were stunned to discover they had won more than $250,000. The wife had checked their Lotto ticket as the numbers appeared in Saturday’s television draw, but counted only four correct numbers. It was not until her husband presented the ticket at their local Lotto outlet to claim a division four prize that the pair found they had won a share of the $1 million first division prize. The couple, who held one of four tickets to share the first division prize, were “delighted” with their win.

They have been making plans for their retirement and want to buy a house. They say the $348,130 win will make the move much easier. Three Wellington workmates, who have used the same combination of numbers since the game began, won a share of the first division prize. However, they did not discover their win until they arrived at work on Monday. A Christchurch woman and her son also held one of the four winning tickets in Saturday’s draw. The woman, who has eight children and seven grandchildren, plans to buy a car and a garage, although the pair will bank the money until they finally decide how it will be spent. The remaining quarter-share of the first division prize was won by a ticket bought in Devonport, Auckland. However, the winner had yet to come forward to claim the prize, the Lotteries Commission said.