Bowling club celebrates 100 years

MEMORABILIA: Amongst the other memorabilia club patron and life member Jean Wylie holds some wooden bowls from about the 1930s. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Apart from a few spots of rain, the weather managed to play ball at the Havelock North Bowling Club's centenary celebrations this weekend.

One of the oldest clubs in the country, the festivities included a cocktail evening, centennial dinner and a three bowls triples tournament, along with more casual games.

Club committee member Brian Doyle said about 140 people attended the cocktail evening at the clubhouse on Friday night, and about 100 enjoyed the dinner on Saturday night at the Havelock North Function Centre.

Bowls Hawke's Bay chairman Tony Terry spoke at the dinner and noted that with about 200 members the club was still thriving.

Longest serving living member Don Clapperton also spoke about the history of the club since he joined in 1961.

Two full greens of players took part in the centennial triples tournament on Saturday, and to wrap things up on Sunday there were social games accompanied by a barbecue, said Mr Doyle.

A progressive club, it was one of the first in the country to install an artificial turf in 1990 or thereabouts, and it was also home to some fine players, he added.

Of note was the team of John Granger, Bruce Stewart, Graham Fulford and Dave Palmer who won the prestigious national Taranaki 4's tournament in 2002.