After 100 years the Castlecliff Bowling Club's Manuka St property is on the market. Photo/ Bevan Conley
After 100 years the Castlecliff Bowling Club's Manuka St property is on the market. Photo/ Bevan Conley
They tried.
The Castlecliff Bowling Club has been holding on by its fingernails but, despite a campaign and mini revival, the club will close after 100 years.
But not before one last hurrah at the November centennial celebrations the club fought so hard to reach.
President Bob Bristol said it was a "lack of members and running costs just got too much" which spelt the end of the club.
Castlecliff Bowling Club was on the verge of collapse two years when it had single-figure membership and thoughts of selling the Manuka St property first surfaced.
But a campaign revived the club's fortunes and it gained about 30 members ahead of last season's open day as the club looked towards the centenary.
But Bristol said members "drifted away" again and while about 15 remain, it realistically needed 30-45 to work.
An amalgamation with the Gonville Bowling Club is on the cards but nothing will be confirmed until a vote from Gonville's membership at its AGM this Sunday.
Bristol said it was a sad day, especially for the older members.
"There's a few sad people there because quite a few of the older ones have been associated with the club for a while," Bristol said.
"My heart goes out to them."
Castlecliff Bowling Club dates back to April 1918 when Mr T Nixon put an advertisement in the Whanganui Chronicle seeking interest.
The club was officially formed in May and named Westbourne Bowling Club after 1- 4 Manuka St was purchased at 50 pounds per section.
By December the first green was open for play.
Four years later the club was renamed Wanganui West and by 1935 it admitted women, though with restrictions on when they could play.
The women soon formed their own Castlecliff Women's Bowling Club.
In 1937 Wanganui West changed its name to Castlecliff Bowling Club and later the men's and women's clubs incorporated under the name Castlecliff Bowling Club.
Sean Pont gets some time on the Castlecliff Bowling Club green on last season's opening day.
Photo/ Stuart Munro
*Past members, family and bowlers are all invited to attend the Centennial Tournament of Castlecliff Bowling Club on November 24 at 9.30am with the celebrations that evening, including a Centennial Dinner and entertainment. Cost per person, playing or not, is $30. Contact Maree Jarman (06) 344 5236 or Aka Alder (06) 345 0497 for information or to enter.
