BOWLS - Coming out a loser when weather rolls dice

THE weather put paid to any thoughts of playing bowls last weekend. I was booked in for four days' play but did not manage to play on any of them. Hopefully, the coming week will produce better weather and some bowls for us all.
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The Centre Champion of Champion Pairs was one victim of the weather but luckily a reserve weekend is set down on May 3 and 4 to complete this event. If one of the other champion of champion events also gets rained out, then Bowls Northland will be in a spot of bother. Fingers crossed on this one.
o0o Two charity tournaments affected by the weather were the Bowls Whangarei tournament, with proceeds to the Kidney Foundation, and the Kittyhawks tournament, with proceeds to North Haven Hospice. Both charities deserve support and it is to be hoped that alternative dates can be found and players re-enter.
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One event completed recently without too many problems was the annual Chartered Clubs tournament held in New Plymouth. This tournament regularly attracts a very strong field and this year more than 250 teams of fours entered.
Most of the chartered clubs from this area send teams and this year was no exception. The Mangawhai Club fared best, getting through to the last eight before being put out by a Taranaki team who managed the windy conditions on a fast green better than the Northlanders. The Mangawhai team were John Wintle (skip) Colin Wintle (three) Colin Pierce (two) and Alan Wintle (lead). Well done on getting so far.
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At the Chartered Club tournament, the Kamo Club in conjunction with the Kamo Bowling Club applied for the right to hold the 2010 tournament in Whangarei. Unfortunately they lost by just one vote.
Kamo hosted the tournament just a few years ago and South Island clubs voted against their proposal because of the distance they have to travel. I know that a lot of hard work had gone into the submission, so bad luck to the organisers.
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More news from Mangawhai. Their championship singles has been completed and the winner for the second year in a row is Chris Gore, who defeated Paul Wightman 21-17 in the final. Chris has performed well since transferring North from Christchurch and is an asset to bowls in Northland.
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Centre Executive Fours was played recently and 28 teams entered, which was not a bad turnout. Kensington Men were the winners on one green and a combined Waipu team the winners on the other. The overall winners and holders of the Richards Cup were Kensington Men. This was the 44th time this cup has been contested - it was presented in 1964 and has not missed a year since. Not a bad record.
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Junior bowlers interested in playing in the Centre Junior Singles may have noticed in the handbook that their entries had to be in to the Centre by February 21, although the event is not due to be played until March 29 and 30. The closing date is incorrect and entries will be accepted up to March 21. If any of you junior bowlers thought, "Bother, I have missed out" - don't panic you have another month to get your entry in.
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Another event which should be encouraged is the Centre First Year Singles which is coming up on Saturday, March 15. The First Year Singles used to be a Gold-Star event and was limited to club champions. The difficulty in defining first-year players was one reason why this event was changed to an open tournament, along with the lack of numbers in the first-year ranks. Club annual return indicate that there are 25 first-year bowlers this season, but less than half that number have entered the tournament at this stage. Entries close on March 7, so if you have yet to enter, get your form in pronto.