Bowls: Weather hampers chances

Gwen Lawson rounds up bowling news.

The difficult conditions on Saturday had a huge effect on the qualifying teams for the Centre Open Championship Triples, with last year's winners of the men's event missing out on qualifying. Pooled water caused a slight delay at the Whangarei greens and at Kamo the first round was played on the artificial turf before transferring to the grass. Check out the centre website for the pictures of improvisation of water puddle clean-up.

Eleven men's teams and seven women's teams went forward to post-section play on Sunday. It was a "monkey off their back" for the Hikurangi men after their numerous runner-up results last season. Sam Nelson, Steve Mitchell, and junior bowler Don Cameron won the event in grand style defeating Kevin Robinson, Wayne Wrack and Keith Youngman of Maungaturoto in the final by 22 points to 11.

In the semifinals, Hikurangi beat Whangarei, who were skipped by Dusty Reader, 23-13 and Maungaturoto beat Kensington, who were skipped by Gordon Bond, 20-14.

This was a sixth centre title for Nelson, third for Mitchell and first for Cameron.

In the women's division, close games were the order of the day with two Kensington teams skipped by Janice Mclean and Leaann Watson meeting in the final. It was six-all after six ends, and from then on it was point for point with the teams going into the last end at 14-all.

It became a 10th centre title for Janice Mclean, ninth title for Nancy Jujovich, and 13th title for Caroline Downs when they scored three shots on the final end to win the match 17-14.

In the semifinals, Watson's team came back from 11 shots down to beat the Hikurangi combination skipped by Linda Pedro 16-15, and Mclean had a comfortable victory over another Kensington club team skipped by Sally Stirling 27-7. Left behind at this event by players were a black umbrella and a pair of black waterproof trousers. Any owner can contact Gwen to collect.

This weekend sees most clubs playing their first round of club championships.

Reminders

Entries for the centre open pairs are now being taken and these close next Thursday.

Mangawhai club advise their two-day tournament scheduled for Labour Weekend has been cancelled. They have replaced this with a one-day any combination progressive triples tournament on the Sunday. Contact the club for an entry.