BOWLS - Chartered clubs will be heading for Whangarei

With Garry Houlahan
Last year, the Kamo club (the chartered club not the bowling club) missed out by one vote on the 2010 chartered clubs tournament being awarded to Whangarei. This year at Papanui in Christchurch, they were successful in their application and the 2011 tournament will be held in the city from February 7-11. This will involve lots of greens throughout Whangarei and possibly beyond, as the event is becoming more and more popular with bowlers involved in the chartered club movement. I know it is a long way off but definitely something to look forward to. Congratulations to those involved with the Kamo club application.
* Interclub Sevens
Sunday sees the playing of the finals of the Interclub Sevens in Auckland. This will determine the club to go through to the national finals in March. Northland representatives are Onerahi in Men's Division 1, Kamo in Men's Division 2, Kensington No2 in Women's Division 1 and Kensington No3 in Women's Division 2.
* Weekend results
Championship news from the weekend. Dargaville fours went to Alan Rakich, Jim Vallance, Lucky Te Tuhi and Steve Mrksch who beat Steve Curac, Ray Bell, Tom Ker and Greg Fuller 19-15. At the start of the second day, Steve Curac's team had two lives but Rakich beat him twice to clinch the title.
At Bowls Whangarei, it was also fours time and the winners were Tom Chapman, John Jamieson, Garry Houlahan and Sam Prasad who beat Trevor Reader, Laurie Reader, Paul Graham and Goldie Wardell 21-11. The Reader team made the final by beating Garry Whitham's team, picking up six shots on the last end when five down on the board. In the first final, Chapman's team was up 14-11 playing the last end when Trevor Reader played a magnificent shot and trailed the jack to pick up seven shots and force a replay. Although they led early in the game, they got stuck with their score on 11 and failed to score on the last 10 ends.
Onerahi completed their singles championship on the weekend and, in a close game, Gordon Bond defeated John Dunn 21-20. The club also completed their triples event and the winner of the women's title was Sophie Anderson, Ann Lison and Winnie Murray ahead of Audrey Fry, Anne Halls and Teeny Wawatai. The men's title went to Ian Halls, Ron Bowmar and Phil Adams who beat John Dunn, Warwick Edgar and Gordon Bond in the final.
Kensington managed to get down to the last two in their triples championship and teams skipped by Mike Butler and Sam Nelson will face off at a later date to decide the winners.
Kamo also played triples and the winners with both lives still intact were Ned Yovich, Alistair Trimmer and Brian Trimmer who defeated Vince Stead, Ted Bagshaw and David Read to take the title.
A full list of championship winners at Te Kopuru is - single: Warren Sandford; pair: Guy Rope and Peter Savident; triples: Guy Rope, Dan Collett, Peter Savident; fours: Brian Gribble, Vic Moffett, Jack McKenzie, Dan Collett. Women's results from Te Kopuru are - singles: Sally Stirling; pairs Sally Stirling, Lyn Irving; triples Karen Biddles, Raewyn Seymour, Lorraine west; fours Sally Stirling, Lyn Irving, Betty Rope, Josie Campbell.
* Under the weather
It is not often that we have heard of cancellations because of adverse weather lately but this unfortunate occurrence happened to Maungakaramea last week, when their popular Jovial Judge-sponsored men's triples had to be called off. They have, however, rescheduled this for March 10, so if you were involved in this event please make a note of the new date.
* Regional finals
Something to look forward to in early March. Northland is to host the regional finals of the New Zealand Community Trust events starting with the mixed pairs on Wednesday, March 4, followed by the singles on Thursday, pairs on Friday, triples on Saturday and fours on Sunday. These will all be played at Onerahi and the cream of bowlers from Far North, Northland, North Harbour and Auckland will be on show. Winners of all disciplines will go on to the national finals later in the season. Should be some good bowls to be seen so make a note of these dates.