Sue Wightman named Northland player of the year at the Bowls Northland sports award evening recently for her winning efforts throughout the season. Three Northland bowlers were recently awarded prestigious Bowls New Zealand caps for their representative achievements. In front of 220 avid bowls competitors and supporters at Bowls Northland Prizegiving andSports Award evening at Kamo Club, the recently retired Barbara Kunicich received a cap for representing NZ nine times, while Kensington Whangarei's Ann Muir was honoured for her 27 caps. Manu Timoti of Hikurangi received an award for an astonishing 45 caps. Bowls NZ chief executive Kerry Clark took time out from a busy schedule to present the caps - an initiative that honoured each bowler to represent the country since international bowls' competition began. Meanwhile, Bowls Northland honoured the great accomplishments competitors in the region had achieved throughout the season. Onerahi's Audrey Fry received the Service to Bowls award while, Northland Player of the Year went to Hakaru's Sue Wightman. In January, Wightman won the national singles title at the NZ Championships, and the Hakaru player will don NZ colours at the Scotland-based World Bowls Championships in July. The top under-25 player in Northland was Kamo's Alistair Trimmer, and the team of the year went to the Northland Women's 1-10 Development side. Muir also received Coach of the Year honours. Arapohue Club's Marty Webb's attention to detail was commended on the night when he won best greenkeeper in the north, while Gwen Lawson of Hikurangi secured the Administrator of the Year prize. The summer lawn bowls 2009/2010 season starts in October.
