This weekend has special significance for the northern provinces of Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty with the 60th staging of the Garrard Shield Inter Association Trophy.
Although the size of teams has reduced over the years the format of two-ball matchplay has never changed. Of special significance is the fact that the names of all members of the winning team are engraved on the trophy badges.
Rotorua was the first Bay of Plenty club to host in 1957 and the fixture did not return to the Bay until 1971 when Mount Maunganui played host and the locals gained their first success in a team led by Terry Leech and Mike Nicholson.
That was to be the only success for the Bay until 2002.
Auckland dominated through the 70's and early 80's until 1988 at Remuera, where a youthful Waikato team which included Michael Long, David Smail and Phil Tataurangi claimed the shield.