Far North players in the money on Sunshine Coast

CROSSING THE DITCH: Local players featured heavily for the 21-strong Taitokerau contingent at a six-day lawn bowling carnival on the Sunshine Coast earlier this month. PICTURE/SUPPLIED

Twenty one players represented the Taitokerau rohe at the 54th Sunshine Coast District Winter Bowls Carnival held in Queensland earlier in the month. Eileen Strongman from Kaikohe - as the spokesman for the Northland contingent - noted the week-long carnival which ran for lawn bowlers from Monday to Saturday, July 4-9, was held on facilities and venues along the coast, where a range of social and competitive events were designed to appeal to beginners and more experienced bowlers alike.

A highlight for the travelling party was the inclusion of first-year bowlers, Graeme Sutherland and Hilton McCarthy, and juniors Ella Dorreen along with Lyn and Ron Faithfull. Eileen noted these players in particular really enjoyed the experience of having to learn to adapt to playing on a variety of surfaces including synthetic, carpet and grass each day.

The first day's play was held at Mooloolaba, with the format being open pairs (three games 1x5 bowl, 1x4 bowl, 1x3 bowl). Kaitaia's Peter Dorreen and Paul Huxtable took out the top prize with 24 points, 19 ends, in a field of 34 teams featuring 44 players from New Zealand.

Day two's play at Caloundra took the form of mixed pairs (four games of 12 ends of 2x2x2x2 pairs) with Kaitaia husband-and-wife team, Paul and Jean Huxtable, emerging overall winners with 23 points and 30.5 ends in a field featuring 37 players from New Zealand.

The day three card at Palmwoods featured open two-bowl triples (four games of 16 ends) and with 46 players from New Zealand involved. Eileen noted Jean Huxtable was asked to present the prizes at the end of the day, although Taitokerau was otherwise conspicuous by its absence on the podium: "I guess the shock of seeing themselves on local TV channel, 8 News, the night before with their harmonious waiata took the spunk out of them."

Day four's play took place at Club Maroochy in Maroochydore with open pairs (four games of 12 ends of 2x4x2) contested by the 42 teams featuring 49 players from New Zealand. There, Peter Dorreen and Paul Huxtable took out the runner-up prize behind Brisbane's Tim and Eileen Swanson, while collecting money as round 3 winners were Kari Pou and Ron Faithfull (Opononi).

Day five at Pelican Waters (four games over 14 ends of three-bowl pairs) was contested by 47 players from New Zealand among the 32 teams involved. Tupu Campbell with partner Sandi Laidlow were in the money in round 1, as were Chester Ruawhare and Rose Timoko in round 2, while Peter Dorreen and partner Jo Inch went on to claim 3rd prize in the top-six bracket.

Day six was played at Coolum, being men's pairs (four games of 12 ends of 2x2x2x2 pairs) where Ruawai's Tua Munga with partner, Sonny Hokai from Kaitaia made it into the top-six bracket to be in the money.

"Overall the hospitality at the different clubs was fantastic and the Taitokerau group responded with waiata and haka, with an awesome trip had by all," Eileen concluded, noting the Maori group's harmonies and cultural performances were in high demand on all six days of the event

"Every day they wanted us to sing, We can't wait go get back there next year."

It was noted the Taitokerau bowling group held an AGM, along with a pot luck lunch and a roll up open to anyone, at Kaikohe last Saturday.