BOWLS - Unbeaten run gives Dunn's team some early cheer

With Garry Houlahan
Maungaturoto Bowling Club held the second of their open tournaments last week with the playing of the Ron McCallum-sponsored Christmas event. As always this was a popular occasion, with a full turnout of 34 teams from all over Northland.
This formed the second leg of the club's big double incorporating the Heatley Memorial and the Christmas tournament, which had a $1200 travel prize and was won by John Dunn, Bruce Horscroft, Bill Burgess and Roger Kerr-Davis, with eight wins. They were the only team to win all their games, although Ian McMurchy and Bob Hodgson ran them close with seven wins apiece.
The Christmas tournament was won by a Mangawhai team of Alan Stebben, Carol Stebben, Willie Wintle and Shirley De Vries, with 4 wins, 27 ends and 54 points.
Runners-up were a local Maungaturoto team of Ken Westlake, Dave Stephens, Warren Seeque and Rae Peters, with 4 wins, 26 ends and 51 points, while third went Ian McMurchy, Jim Taylor, Ardy Marsh and Bruce Clarkson, who also had 4 wins and 26 ends but 50 points, just one shy of the second team.
The other four winners were John Dunn's team, who compensated for their fourth placing with winning the double mentioned above.
As always the club provided great fellowship and it was a privilege to be part of this tournament.
* Small field at memorial
The main event over the weekend was the Bowls Whangarei Len Thomson Memorial Fours, which regrettably only attracted a field of 15 teams. It would have been disappointing for the club, which put up a first prize of $2000, $800 for second and guaranteed prizemoney to half the field.
If players do not support these major cash tournaments then they will surely disappear from the calendar and we will be left one day with meat pack tournaments only, which will do absolutely nothing for bowls in Northland.
The field of 15 teams was competitive and nobody managed to win all their six games over the two days. With 5 wins and 135 shots, the winners were John Dunn, Gordon Bond, Bruce Horscroft and Ian Halls from Onerahi, which would have gone well with their win at Maungaturoto a couple of days earlier.
Second went to a composite team of Kevin Robinson, Paul Yovich, Ron McCallum and Warren Seeque, with 5 wins and 123 shots. Trevor Reader, Sam Prasad, Dave Holwell and Goldie Wardell were third with 5 wins and 114 shots.
Other prize winners were teams skipped by Peter Savident (Te Kopuru) Alan Rakich (Dargaville), Robin Sowerby (Kensington) and Garry Whitham (Bowls Whangarei).
Trophies, which were presented by Gladys Thomson, were donated by the Thomson family in memory of Len Thomson, a life member of Bowls Whangarei, who passed away earlier in the year.
* Onerahi fours winners
I omitted one result from championships last week. Onerahi Women's Fours were won by Sophie Anderson, Ann Halls, Lauren Mills and Sharon McKinnon, who defeated Val Reed, Linda Swanson, Teeny Wawatai and Winne Murray. Well done all those ladies on their results.
* Racehorse pays the bills
If you noticed a big smile on the faces of Colin and John Wintle after the weekend it had nothing to do with bowls. They have an interest in a promising racehorse called Golan Grey, which won a $40,000 race at Te Rapa a week ago last Saturday. No doubt the winner's stake will help to pay a few of the bills over Christmas. Well done to all concerned.
* Good luck for nationals
We're coming up to the festive season, so all the best to bowlers everywhere. There are a few tournaments between Christmas and New Year which should attract the interest of locals plus a few visitors.
With the nationals being in Auckland this year, quite a few Northlanders will be travelling to take part. They are starting a bit later than normal, but this will not hurt as it gives us a chance to get New Year's Eve out of the way before concentrating on bowls. Have a very merry Christmas.