Bowls Wairarapa awards debut

Longtime Wairarapa representative Ian Monaghan was a popular winner of the Player of the Year trophy when Bowls Wairarapa held a hugely successful first-ever awards function in Masterton on Saturday evening.
Monaghan, from the Masterton club, has won no fewer than 40 centre titles, meaning he is now the holder of eight gold stars, a remarkable achievement which has seldom - if ever - been bettered anywhere else in the country.
Featherston's Darkie Barrow won the outstanding contribution to Bowls Wairarapa award. She is currently the centre vice-president and selector of the senior women's representative side
Carterton umpire John Wright was named official of the year, Andrea Dee of Martinborough administrator of the year, Dennis Richards and Keith Hannam of Masterton greenkeepers of the year and Masterton was club of the year.
Their president Graham Chandler accepted that trophy.
Honoured for attaining gold stars during the 2010-11 season were Ian Monaghan, who has now has eight, Avis Cooper (Eketahuna) five, Warren Fisher (Masterton) three, Jean Paku (Lansdowne) two and John Mahupuku (Park) and Wyn Dellabarca (Masterton) one each.
The function drew an attendance of about 100, including Bowls NZ representative Paul Cavanagh, who presented a special plaque to the Eketahuna club for celebrating their centennial.