Bowls: Hikurangi 'young guns' too strong in pairs final

Bowling news.

The Centre Open Pairs Championship for men and women were completed last weekend.

In the women's division there were 12 qualifiers with the final being fought out by two teams from the Hikurangi Club.

The finalists were Marny Jones (Skip) and Leanne Stewart (Lead), and Diane Lawrence (Skip) and Gwen Lawson (Lead).

This match was close and ended in a victory for the 'young guns' when they closed out the match with a two on the last end to win.

This was a fifth centre title and a gold star to Leanne Stewart.

Sixteen teams qualified in the men's event, from a field of 42 teams.

The final was played out between Dusty Reader (skip) and Steve Smith (lead) of Whangarei, and Bruce Horscroft (skip) and Neil Connell (lead) of Onerahi.

In the end this was a comfortable win for the Whangarei combination and a fifth centre title and gold star to Steve Smith.

Centre Fours/Singles:

This weekend sees the Men's Centre Fours being played at Whangarei and the Women's Centre Singles being played at the Mangawhai greens on Saturday.

Post-section play for both events will be played at Mangawhai greens on Sunday.

Both events start at 8.45am.

Teams entered are:

Men's Fours:

Ian Bowick, Kevin Robinson, Gordon Bond, John Dunn, Ross Hollingsworth, Dusty Reader, Peter Nicholson, Rex Roadley, Gerry Mulligan, Adam Booth, Sam Nelson, Ken Fitness, Trevor Johnston, Paul Wightman, Graham Wintle, Garry Fraser, Mike Howie, Brian Hagger, Tom Webb.

There is one vacancy. Please contact Adam Booth if you wish to enter.

Women's Singles:

Chris Budge, Wendy Sarjeantm, Calol Neeley, Diane Lawrence, Sally Stirling, Margaret Gurney, Lauren Mills, Caroline Downs, Tina Harris, Rawi Brewster, Mona Guttenbeil, Jan Hollingsworth, Jackie Rutledge, Leanne Stewart, Anne Bateman, Maree Attwood, Savanna Lauder, Judi Moyle, Ann Halls, Jan Guiness.

Umpires Association Fours:

The recent Umpires Association Fours tournament had a full green of 16 entries and was won by a combined team of Malcolm and Lydia Wyatt, Sa Prasad and Grant Bush. Second place went to a visiting team from the Far North Umpires Association led by Goldie Wardell (president), and third place went to a team led by Arthur Tan.

Products supplied by the non-cash sponsors, Super Liqour Okara, were distributed to the 13 teams who did not win a prize in the event. Cash sponsor on the day were Umpires Association members Bruce Scott and Pat Bourke.

Next weeks open events:

November 10 One Tree Pt men's triples; November 11 Maungatapere AC triples; November 12 Dargaville Mx triples, Kensington AC triples; November 14-15 is set for the Club Championships.

Four teams from Northland will also be playing in the North Island Chartered Clubs Women's tournament in Tauranga.