BOWLS - Jack's Corner

With Garry Houlahan
* National title heads north
Northland has another national title holder with Pat Warth, Caroline Downs, Karen Horscroft and Ngaire Nicholls successful in the New Zealand Community Trust fours at Rotorua on the weekend. The title was decided on a countback after two teams were tied on 8 points each but Warth's team had the best differential and claimed the title. The team played well throughout the tournament, losing narrowly in one game but having good wins in the rest. This counted in their favour when the scorers did their calculations. Congratulations to everybody concerned.
* Champions rained out
Rain on Saturday caused havoc in the Champion of Champions Triples tournament. Play started out on grass greens with the men at Bowls Whangarei and the women at Kamo but both these greens went under water at a fairly early stage forcing a change of venue.
The women went out to Maungakaramea while the men went to Onerahi and play continued on the artificial surfaces.
On Sunday, all games were played at Hikurangi and, while the women's competition was completed, the men's final is still to be played.
The date for the men's event depends on what happens in the Champion of Champions Pairs this weekend.
The two teams left are Bowls Whangarei (who still have two lives) and Mangawhai (with one life). The intention is to finish the triples on Sunday provided Sam Prasad is available to play as he is the only player involved in both competitions.
If the Bowls Whangarei pair go out on Saturday, the triples will be played on Sunday. What happens if the Bowls Whangarei pair go right through both days still has to be sorted out.
The women's final was won by the Kensington team of Maureen Parker (playing as a replacement for Karen Horscroft who was in Rotorua winning a national title), Trish Murray and Amy Burgess who defeated Arapohue's Diane Stewart, Elsie Potai-Hovell and Margaret Te Tuhi 21-8.
The Kensington team had the final pretty well under control at all stages and came away comfortable winners. In the final rounds, Kensington had a bye into the final while Arapohue accounted for Hakaru to book their finals spot.
* Bowler passes away
Tom Martin, of Whangarei RSA Bowling Club, was well known as a keen club bowler but had never won a championship title until this year. He was successful in winning his club triples title and played in the Champion of Champions event on Saturday and Sunday morning until his team was eliminated.
He said that he was looking forward to seeing his name on the club honours board but, unfortunately, he will not be able to do this. After complaining of feeling unwell on Sunday, he was taken home and died on Sunday evening.
* Interclub competition
The annual regional Interclub 1-5 Year competition was completed at Hikurangi on Saturday in steady rain. Five centres participate in this and some good bowlers have cut their teeth in this event.
This year, the contestants were Kawakawa from Far North, Maungaturoto from Northland, Mairangi from North Harbour, Henderson from Auckland and Manurewa from Counties-Manukau.
After play was completed there were two teams equal on 14 match points _ Maungaturoto and Manurewa but, on the countback, the winners were Maungaturoto by just two shots. It could not have been much closer. Winning team was Brett Robinson (singles), Kevin Robertson and Adam Booth (pairs) and Rex Roadley, John Anderson and Ngaira Vaney (triples).
The dedication of these inexperienced bowlers in persevering with the trying conditions impressed more senior players among the spectators.
* Pairs up this weekend
Champion of Champions Pairs at Kamo this weekend for men and women. Please remember it is an 8.30am start as daylight saving has finished. Clubs entered are:
Men: Hikurangi, Dargaville, Mt Manaia, Onerahi, Maungakaramea, Kensington, Whangarei RSA, Waipu, Ruawai, Maungatapere, Maungaturoto, Arapohue, Mangawhai, Te Kopuru, Whangarei, Kamo, Ngunguru, One Tree Point.
Women: Onerahi, Te Kopuru, Whangarei, Maungatapere, Kamo, Hakaru, Ruawai, Waipu, Paparoa, One Tree Point, Hikurangi, Dargaville, Maungakaramea, Arapohue, Kensington, Mt Manaia.
Good bowls to you all.
* Triples to honour Neal
Bowls Whangarei held their Wally Neal Memorial Mixed Triples last Wednesday and it was a very pleasant day.
The day is named in honour of the late Wally Neal who was a life member of Bowls Whangarei as well as Northland Centre and who did a tremendous amount for the game of bowls during his lifetime.
Winner on the day, and the only team to secure four wins, were Bill Barnes, Trevor Mark and Lola Marshall from Ngunguru while second went to Robin Sowerby, Stan Callagher and Glenda Norris-Palmer from Kensington. Third was a home team of Nancy Bradshaw, Bert Atkins and Ray Bradshaw.
* Awards and prizes
Don't forget the inaugural awards dinner and presentation of prizes at Kamo Club (The Working Men's Club not the Bowls Club) on May 17. You can still book a table by contacting the centre secretary. It will be interesting to see what support this innovation gets from rank and file bowlers.