BOWLS - Kensington take out women's pairs title

With Garry Houlahan
The Centre Champion of Champion Pairs was completed on the weekend at Mangawhai. The conditions were difficult with the heat and a tricky wind, and a fast green meant that the heads were well spread and it was difficult to dead draw a shot.
At the end of the first day on Saturday there were four teams left in the women's event with Kensington and Hakaru having two lives and Te Kopuru and Arapohue just the one. In the battle of the two lifers Kensington came out on top and then got a bye while Hakaru and Arapohue played off. Arapohue won this game and played Kensington in a provisional final and were clear winners meaning that both teams had to go out and do it all again.
This time the Kensington pair of Ann Muir and Jude Ganley were always in charge and had a comfortable victory. Arapohue's Diane and Leeanne Stewart never gave up but this was just not their day. It was good to see both teams having a junior bowler playing at lead and more senior bowlers could follow and take less experienced players with them in championship and major events.
In the men's competition it was Whangarei RSA who came out on top retaining both their lives in winning the title. At the end of play on Saturday they and Onerahi had two lives while Kamo, Dargaville, Arapohue and Kensington all had one life remaining. Whangarei RSA accounted for Onerahi who went down to the one lifers, but still kept on winning and the final was a replay of the earlier game with brothers Warren and Brian Taylor representing Whangarei RSA playing Onerahi's Ian Bowick and Barry Moore. The final was close although Onerahi got away to an early lead. Whangarei RSA fought back and on the last end they led 15-14, but Onerahi held one shot, which would have forced an extra end, however Warren Taylor drove it out with his last bowl to clinch the title.
* Well done Trevor
Dargaville Bowling Club had a bit of bad luck earlier in the season when the relaying of their back grass green was delayed by bad weather. This meant that they did not have the use of this green and it was feared that it may not be playable this season at all. Good work by greenkeeper Trevor Lang and his team got things back on track and the club used the green for a mixed triples tournament on Anniversary weekend. Winners were Tottie Rakich, Zena Mathews and Ray Bell while runners up were Alan rakish, Bill Walker and Bob Goodyer. From all accounts the green played well and it will only improve with further play. It is amazing how bowls going up and down the green plus peoples feet walking around help to improve a green. Hopefully this green will now be in regular use.
* Ken Morgan Cup
Further news from the west with Te Kopuru Bowling Club holding their Ken Morgan Cup recently. This is a pairs tournament and there were four pairs with four wins meaning that one had to miss out on the prizes. This was the pairing of Brian and Kerry Gribble - close but no cigar. Winners with 4 wins, 27 ends and 55 shots were Dan Collett and Bella Pook ahead of Kevin and Lorraine West with 4 wins, 23 ends and 51 shots while third went to Ron Hunter and Sally Sterling with 4 wins, 19 ends and 50 shots.
* Mixed success
Onerahi Bowling Club held their mixed pairs championship on the weekend and after qualifying play on Saturday the skips with the necessary points to go through to post section play were Ian Halls, Doug Domigan, Fred Ogilvie, Danny Ilieveski, John Franklin, Les Payne, Sophie Anderson and George Hopkins. After the dust settled at the end of the tournament the winners were Fred Ogilvie and Margaret Nathan-ONeill who defeated Ian and Ann Halls in the final. Well done to all concerned. Interesting to note that of the eight qualifiers, seven were skipped by men and only one skipped by a women player.
* Hilda Quennell win
Bowls Northland played their Hilda Quennell tournament for leads and twos recently. This tournament is keenly contested and appears to attract two distinct groups of players. One is the up-and-coming player on their way through to higher honours and the other is former skips who may now be feeling the effects of age and wish to step down a notch or two. This makes for a very competitive tournament and this year was no exception. Winners were Amy Burgess, Jacqui Howarth and Jude Ganley from Kensington while second went to Doreen Martin, Betty Harding and Paulette Morris from Mt Manaia.
* Get in quick
Entries close on February 15 for the Executive Fours. The field will be limited to the first 32 entries so if you have not yet put your club's entry in do so quickly or you may miss out. In recent years Bowls Northland has had the ability to bring in a third green through playing at Kamo, but this will not be possible this season with the tournament to be held at Hikurangi.