Bowls: Late bloomer Winstanley an entertainer who ruled the bowls world

Cissie Winstanley

Cissie Winstanley, who died yesterday aged 97, was known as a late bloomer, starting bowls at 40 and competing in her first world championship at 64.

Yet she went on to become one of New Zealand's sports legends. When she was voted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, the overwhelming reaction was, "what took so long?"

Her record of 17 national titles and 150 titles in all, marked her as an exceptional competitor.

However, her performances at the two world championships she attended sealed it for her.

She skipped the triple and the four to gold medals in the world champs in Wellington in 1973, and four years later her triple won the silver medal on the heavy greens at Worthing, England.

As late as 1987, when she was 78, she won the Classic singles invitation event in Auckland, beating the best bowlers in the country.

Winstanley was quite a drawcard because of her antics during a tight game.

She'd be seen standing on one leg, or leaning as far as she could one way, willing her ball nearer the jack, and would trot down the green, following her bowl. She was all business before she bowled, lining up her shot quickly, then using a nicely-balanced rhythmic delivery.

"It was just natural, you know. I was never coached," she said at the time of her induction into the Hall of Fame.

It was strange that she should build such a formidable reputation as a bowler. During her childhood years in the coal-mining town of Runanga on the West Coast of the South Island, it was the last sport she would have considered.

She was born in England in 1908, but her family moved to New Zealand before she was of school age, and her father worked in the mines.

"I loved all sport. I was a good sprinter, but only up to 75 yards. After that, I used to run out of steam," she said during an interview in 1997.

She also swam, played basketball, cricket, tennis and later golf. Whatever she turned to, she had unusual ability.

In the 1940s, she had to undergo two major operations. She moved to Napier, where it was thought the warmer climate would improve her health.

It was then that she took up bowls.

Almost immediately she began winning East Coast bowls titles.

In all she was to win 35 champion titles - eight singles, 13 pairs, nine triples and five fours - and 18 East Coast Open tournament titles.

She collected her first national titles in 1957, winning both the singles and pairs.

That year she helped form the Marewa Bowling Club for women. Over the next three decades, she filled many of the club's administrative positions.

Winstanley was awarded an MBE in 1974.

- NZPA