BOWLS - Junior bowlers' form promises top future competition

With Garry Houlahan
The second round of the 1-5 Year regional contest was played at Waipu on Sunday and it turned out to be a good day for North Harbour.
In a close women's contest, they came out the winners with 30 match points just ahead of Auckland and Northland who were equal on 28 points each but a better differential saw Auckland take second placing ahead of Northland. Far North were fourth with 10 points.
The men's competition saw exactly the same result with North Harbour on top with 31 points, Auckland in second place with 26 points, Northland in third with 22 points and Far North fourth with 16 points. The trophy for competition between Northland and Auckland over the two rounds saw Auckland win by just one game so it was very close.
The junior bowlers put on a very good exhibition of bowls and I am sure there will be some top bowlers coming out of this competition in the years to come.
* Don't forget a marker
This weekend we have the second Champion of Champions event with the singles being played at the Kamo greens commencing at 9am.
Entries are: Men - Arapohue, Dargaville, Hikurangi, Kamo, Kensington, Mamaranui, Mangawhai, Maungakaramea, Maungatapere, Maungaturoto, Mt Manaia, Ngunguru, Onerahi, One Tree Point, Ruawai, Te Kopuru, Waipu, Whangarei, Whangarei RSA. Women's entries: Arapohue, Dargaville, Hakaru, Hikurangi, Kamo, Kensington, Maungakaramea, Maungatapere, Mt Manaia, Onerahi, Ruawai, Te Kopuru, Whangarei.
Don't forget that you have to provide a marker.
* Te Kopuru still lively
The Te Kopuru Bowling Club has been busy over recent days holding two open tournaments.
They started out with the Len Bassett Memorial Triples sponsored by Peter and Jean Savident in memory of Peter's grandfather who was the first president of the Te Kopuru Bowling Club when it opened in 1949.
Winners of this tournament were Eric Smitton, Warren Sandford and Margaret Smitton with 4 wins, 20 ends and 42 points and they just edged out the other four winners Kevin West, Raewyn Seymour and Lorraine West with 4 wins, 18 ends and 38 points.
Third went to Brian Gribble, Steve Perrett and Norma Reid with 3 wins, 20 ends and 35 points.
The club's other tournament was a pairs tournament sponsored by life member Dennis Antonio.
The winners were sisters Julie Heatley and Elaine Blitvic with 4 wins, 27 ends and 44 points while second went to husband and wife Allan and Tottie Rakich with 4 wins, 25 ends and 48 points.
Third spot was filled by Brian Gribble and Karen Biddles with 3 wins, 24 ends and 44 points.
There is still obviously plenty of life left in the Te Kopuru club.
* Only a first-year once
You can only be a first-year bowler once in your lifetime. If you are a first-year bowler this year make sure that you get an entry in the Centre mixed first year singles to be played at Bowls Whangarei on Saturday, April 4.
This tournament replaced the former Champion of Champions First Year Singles title some years ago and now allows any first-year bowler to participate.
Entries close next Thursday, don't forget to bring along a marker from your club.
* Throat-cutting action
Bowls Whangarei held their Money Managers-sponsored triples tournament on the weekend and, strangely enough, there were no four winners.
It is not often we see an open tournament without at least one team going through unbeaten but, on this occasion, everybody seemed to cutting one another's throat. Winners were Fred Kirk, Sam Prasad and Agnes Kirk with 3 wins and 72 points and second went to Garry Whitham, John Jamieson and Lenore Jamieson with 3 wins and 59 points.
This team would have had four wins but they lost their last game of the day on an extra end and, because of a lesser points score, only ended up in second spot. There were two other teams with 3 wins and both had 58 points so the minor placings were very close. These two teams were skippered by Tom Chapman and Glenda Norris-Palmer.
* Kittyhawks time
It is not too late to get your entry in for the Kittyhawks tournament next Monday at Bowls Whangarei. Profits will go to the North Haven Hospice which is well and truly deserving of support. Entries to either Peter Manuel on 09-431 5512, Nick Puharich on 09-439 7356, Brian Vincent on 027 453 7834 or Harry Davis on 437 6037.