BOWLS - Thorburn storms to his tenth Centre crown

With Garry Houlahan
The men's Centre Singles was completed on Monday at Kamo when the two remaining players, Wayne Wrack from Waipu and Joe Thorburn from Kensington, clashed. Thorburn was on to his drawing game straight away while Wrack, normally lethal on the drive, was out of touch. It was not until the second last end, with the score 20-8, that Thorburn missed out by dropping four shots. He did fix things up on the next end, scoring a single to win 21-12. The win was his tenth Centre title and gave him his second Gold Star.
* Teams named
Centre selectors have named their teams for the second representative weekend in Auckland on February 28-March 1. They are: Men's Open A: Singles: Daniel Hood (Maungakaramea); Pairs: John Dunn and Gordon Bond (Onerahi); Triples: Alan Rakich (Dargaville), Sam Nelson (Kensington), Alistair Trimmer (Kamo). Men's Open Reserve: Singles Ian Halls (Onerahi); Pairs: Ian Bowick and Barry Moore (Onerahi); Triples: Steve Smith (Kensington), Trevor Reader (Whangarei), Joe Thorburn (Kensington). Men's Academy: Singles: Adam Booth (Mangawhai); Pairs: Paul Yovich (Whangarei) and Chris Gore (Mangawhai); Triples: Kevin Robinson, Ken Westlake (Maungaturoto), Neville Franks (Mangawhai). Women's Open A: Singles: Sue Wightman (Hakaru); Pairs: Manu Timoti (Hikurangi) and Anne Bateman (Kensington); Triples: Caroline Downs, Maree Attwood, Ann Muir (Kensington). Women's Open Reserve: Singles: Dianne Stewart (Arapohue); Pairs: Madeline Yovich (Kamo) and Maureen Parker (Kensington): Triples: Nancy Jujnovich (Kensington), Girl Reweti (Hikurangi), Pat Warth (Kensington). Women's Academy: Singles: Patricia Murray (Kensington); Pairs: Jude Ganley (Kensington) and Ann Halls (Onerahi); Triples: Leeanne Stewart (Arapohue) Lauren Mills (Kensington) Doreen Martin (Mt Manaia).
* Jamieson sweep
Bowls Whangarei held their annual Doel Pairs over Anniversary weekend. After qualifying on Saturday, the top eight were drawn into two sections for a round-robin. Section 1 was decided on countback, with the home club's John Jamieson and Garry Whitham winners by just two shots, over Kensington's Robin Sowerby and Coe Van Haaften. Section 2 was more clear cut with one three winner in another host club team of Garry Houlahan/Sam Prasad ahead of teams entered in the names of Ron Bowmar, Tom Chapman and Gary Herbert. Houlahan/Prasad jumped to an early lead and were up 11-1 before Jamieson and Whitham hit their straps. Indeed, with one end to go, they were in front 14-13. On the last end it was a close measure but the shot went to Jamieson and Whitham, winners 15-13. The win meant Jamieson now has his name on every section of the board.
In the Plate, there was a very close final between a composite team of Sam Nelson and Ardy Marsh, who played a Whangarei RSA team of Warren and Brian Taylor. After the 12 ends the scores were tied at 12-12. The extra end went to Nelson and Marsh by one shot.
* Memorial scorcher
While the Doel Pairs was underway in Whangarei, the Te Kopuru club held their annual Mick & Mary Milich Memorial Open Triples out west. Another hot day, which took its toll on players. Winners with 4 wins and 24 ends were a composite team of Brian Gribble, Melva Sandford and Shirley Bramwell, while second went to another composite team of Alan & Tottie Rakich with Karen Biddles who had 4 wins but only 20 ends while third were a visiting Ruawai team of Fay Berridge, Raewyn Inglis and Baders Bracey with 3 wins and 19 ends. The event was sponsored by Clem and Gloria Milich in memory of their parents, who were long time members.
* Greens pride
Northland Greenkeepers Association tournament is always well supported and this year was no exception, with two full greens at Onerahi last week. Players played two games on the immaculate grass green and two on the artificial surface which gave everybody an opportunity to play both surfaces. Prizes were awarded for each section and in Section 1 the only four winners were Onerahi's Fred Ogilvie, Alan Roberts, Bill Starkie and John Franklin. Second went to last years winners Whangarei with 3 wins and 22 ends while Hikurangi were third with 3 wins and 21 ends. In Section 2 there were three winners of all four games but top team and overall winner of the Greenkeepers Cup were Kensington's Mike Butler, Pat Moloughney, Bob Arbon and Peter Nicholas with 4 wins and 27 ends. Second went to Dargaville who had 4 wins and 26 ends while third went to Maungatapere with 4 wins and 25 ends. All very close in that section.
Well done greenkeepers - especially Onerahi's Bill Burgess who has the Onerahi grass green playing wonderfully. Obviously the work that the greenkeepers undertake is bearing fruit. Who would want to play on an artificial surface when there are grass greens of this calibre available.
* Interclub day
The 1-5 Year Interclub tournament was played at Whangarei and Whangarei RSA greens on Anniversary Day and the winners were Kensington No.2 team of Margaret Gurney (Singles), Jane Mitchell and Diane Strawbridge (Pairs), Johanna Cross, Dot Haslam and Linda Brocklebank (Triples). They had 21 points from their games and were clear winners from Mangawhai No.1 team of Neville Franks (Singles), Rob Cleaver and Adam Booth (Pairs), Ray Greening, Paul Freeman, Len Bird (Triples) who had 18 points. Third was Maungaturoto with 16 points and fourth Kensington No.1 with 15 points. The winners will now go on to represent Northland in the regional final to be played at Hikurangi at the end of April. The standard of play was high throughout the day and full marks to all players.
* Just champion
The first of this season's Champion of Champion events is to be played this weekend when the Pairs is played.
Entries are:
Men: Whangarei RSA, Maungaturoto, Ruawai, Waipu, Hikurangi, Mamaranui, Kamo, Mangawhai, Whangarei, Onerahi, Ngunguru, Arapohue, One Tree Point, Kensington, Maungatapere, Maungakaramea, Dargaville, Te Kopuru.
Women: Mt Manaia, Maungaturoto, Ruawai, Waipu, Hikurangi, Kamo, Hakaru, Whangarei, Onerahi, Arapohue, One Tree Point, Kensington, Te Kopuru, Dargaville.
Good bowling to all players.