Three generations love game

A FAMILY AFFAIR: Samantha Sweeney (left), Sheryl Petersen and Leanne Sweeney.PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

IT'S not often in any sport that three generations of the one family get to play in the same team.

However, it's becoming something of a regular occurrence at the Masterton Bowling Club as former president Sheryl Petersen, 62, partners her daughter, Leanne Sweeney, 40, and her granddaughter, Samantha Sweeney, a 15-year-old Kuranui College student.

The trio played in the club's fours (where they were joined by Edith Kern) and triples championships and, while they did not taste success there, it was a different story last weekend when Sheryl and Leanne combined to win the pairs event.

Victory in a club championship was nothing new for the matriarch of the family. In a outdoor bowling career spanning 23 years, Sheryl now has 10 to her credit and a couple of centre titles as well.

For Leanne Sweeney though, it was her first club championship success and came in her first season of competitive bowls. Her involvement in the sport was prompted by her going along to watch daughter Samantha play and deciding that, if she was going to be spending so much time at the greens, she might as well get serious about the game.

And for the former Wairarapa tennis and netball representative, it's been an impressive start, as she was selected to skip the triple in the Wairarapa junior (players with no more than five years' playing experience) squad which played in an inter-provincial tournament in Masterton last week.

Also in that side was Samantha Sweeney, who was in the 2-4-2 pairs. She is in her second season in bowls and is also showing considerable promise, having qualified to represent her region at the Kittyhawk under-20 tourney in Auckland.

Talented as the Sweeneys are, however, it is Sheryl Petersen who, as skip, calls the shots when they play. She recalls being "really chuffed and a bit emotional" when they first teamed up but reckons age and wisdom gives her the right to take charge. "I'm the boss and they listen and try to do what they are told. Actually, it's probably one of the few times they do that nowadays."

Interesting though will be the playing order when the family combines in a mixed tournament as Sheryl's husband, David, now the head greenkeeper at the Masterton club, is no mean performer himself and may just have something to say about that "boss" bit.