Update 30^th January 2012

CHANGE TO THIS WEEKENDS MENS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Please note that a change has had to be made to this weekend’s men’s Club Champs to enable time to complete the Singles before the Champ of Champs on the 25th Feb.

This Saturday 4th Feb remains as the 1st day of the Men’s Singles. Sunday 5th Feb will now be the 2nd day of this event with the 2nd day of the pairs to be rescheduled for another date.

Closing date for the singles entries is Thursday 2 Feb at 5pm sharp.

MARKERS REQUIRED FOR SATURDAY 4th FEB PLEASE.

Names as usual on the board in the clubhouse.

Those players eliminated are expected to mark after they are put out and may also be required to mark on the Sunday for at least 1 game.

It is hoped to do a cleanup weekend of our club champs senior events if possible on the18th and 19th Feb depending on qualifiers for the centre singles and fours which are also scheduled for this same weekend.

Also note the Intermediate Triples scheduled for the 25th Feb has also been postponed due to the Champ of Champs on this day.

This may now be held on the 19th Feb depending on what players are still involved in other Club and Centre events.

Further changes will be noted here and on the notice board.

Over 65 Club Singles on this Friday 3rd Feb start time 9am.

Murray

Bowling On - 30^th January

I never have any truck with players who blame weather conditions for failure at bowls or any other sport for that matter but the number of boilovers I have seen in recent weeks leads me to believe there might be some credence in the excuses being provided.

I heard a number of bowlers bemoaning the fact their narrow bowls were no good in Saturday's constant winds during the National Club singles at the Northern greens. Phillip Skoglund jnr did not advance past the first round of post-section play being defeated 25-20 by fourth year Terrace End bowler Mike Hodge. To blame conditions however would be to deny how well Hodge played and such a prestigious scalp was due reward for the hours of practice he has been putting in.

Other games that had the stamp of upset on them were Terry Puklowski's (Johnstn Park) 25-17 win over Chris Barrett (Palmerston North), Northern's Peter Dellabarca winning 25-24 over Ray Lovie  and Mark Noble 25-20 (both his clubmates), and Brian Schischka's (Johnston Park) 25-18 win over Takaro's Barry Wynks. As the last eight round commenced Craig Gush (Northern) was the only member of Eric Watson's 14 man representative team remaining and the clubhouse humour revolved round the quality of the bowlers out marking the games!

When the competition is completed at Northern on 18 February Craig Gush will play Schischka while Scotty McGavin (Bulls) will meet another Northern player  Terry Johnson. Indeed Johnson and Schischka were two users of narrow bowls who were in excellent form. After being so wide of the mark with predictions for last week’s games I'll be sitting on the fence this time.

Before I leave weather conditions I well recall advice given by one time New Zealand coach John Murtagh nearly 20 years ago and a copy of which I still refer to today. "The weather, surface and the opposition are of no concern to you, concern yourself only with your game". The advice doesn't age and when not in form a bowler's best friend is the mirror - Look hard at the image and work out where you went wrong.

The women finished their singles event and it was a delight for me at a club and personal level to see two Johnston Park players meet in the final. Robyn Schischka beat Lyn Jensen 25-14 and it was the third title for Schischka in the last 12 months having won last season's champion of champion triples and this season's National club triples. When playing in Wairarapa Schischka had twice raided the Manawatu to earn an open fours and an open singles so she will now be entitled to a Manawatu Gold star. Her form has been excellent.

• Eric Watson doesn't waste his smiles but he was on the borderline of giving one when his A representative side beat off Kapiti, Wellington and Wairarapa in the annual quadrangular event at Palmerston North on Sunday. The team lost all disciplines in the first round then bounced back to clean sweep the last two rounds. All players were working into good form by the end of the day and it will be hard to change the top seven. Those who are pushing are Craig Gush and Mark Noble who combined splendidly in the B team fours for three wins and Laurie Gordon who played very good singles and could easily lead a pair or four. Manawatu finished second to Wellington in the B section.

• Wellington won both womens events at Terrace End with Manawatu runner-up in the A event and third in the B tournament. Wellington's depth was demonstrated with Mandy Boyd who was runner-up in all three events at the recent nationals and the well performed Kaaren Guilford both playing in the B team. Wellington won't be there when Manawatu goes onto the Regional Intercentre competition (Manawatu hosted) on 4 March and Manawatu will face Hawkes Bay, Gisborne/East Coast and Wairarapa. It's all down to top sevens now with the representative season over for the B teams and there is real interest in what the final make-up of teams will be.

• I couldn't help but observe the dire state of the game in Wairarapa. They finished last in all four contests with Ian Monaghan's three singles wins in the A section the only real ray of hope. There was a time when they competed strongly with the big brother neighbours but those days seem to be gone.

• Many Clubs will be getting urgent about club championships next weekend with time having been lost to weather and champion of champion events looming. Northern have a two bowl any gender triples tournament on Waitangi Day and Des Meyer tells me it is a 9-30 start and not 12-30 as shown in the centre handbook.

• Woodville report to me that they had an outstandingly successful women's gala on 18 January attracting 14 teams, many of good quality judged by the prize winning skips, Schischka, Pat Cohr, Irene Ellis and Bev Ellmers. Robbie McLean one time All Black is the tournament sponsor and has been for 26 years which may be some sort of a record. It still baffles me though how the National Club fours could only attract six teams at closing time which hopefully has now risen to eight. Some tell me it is because centre events are full days of bowls but so are galas. If someone has the answer please let me know.

• Manawatu had three teams at the Taranaki women's open fours last week, all qualified and two reached the last eight, which was highly commendable in town hall company. The two teams in the last eight were Viv Lozell (skip), Noeline Elston, Carol Davidson and Nita Hannah all Northern and from Palmerston North Ngaire Cowen, Jewell Griggs, Margaret Humphreys and Joan Ware.

Good bowling and keep the news coming to tony.jensen@aon.co.nz.

Tony Jensen

Update 26^th January 2012

Sunday the 29^th  January.

The Club is organising an In House Drawn tournament on Sunday the 29^th.

Details are:-

In House Drawn Tournament.

Dress - Mufti.

$2 entry fee.

Start time 1pm.

Names in by 12:30pm.

The forecast is for fine weather.

It should be an enjoyable way to spend your afternoon.

Update 25^th January 2012

Bowling On - 25/01/2012

Manawatu's representative sides will be involved in an all or nothing contest this Sunday when the annual Tararua Quadrangular tournament is held in Palmerston North.

The event is contested between Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington and Kapiti and only the winners go forward to the National final. The men will be at Palmerston North and the women will be hosted at Terrace End. Both clubs boast greens of real quality which the visitors will find appetising and there is unlikely to be any real home advantage.

Each discipline produces equal points so it is really important each team of pairs and fours carries its weight and the singles player must perform. An average of two out of three wins against each opponent should be enough to produce a win.

I have not seen the Manawatu women's final selection but I would expect Feona Sayles to be the singles player and play a key role. Her recent competitive efforts in National competition mean she is match fit but Wellington's Kaaren Guilford has a similar background and outstanding success so will be a key opponent. Manawatu's best performed women's player Sharon Sims will also be back to provide mental toughness.

A key team for the men will be Phillip Skoglund Jnr's four and this has been our least successful discipline in recent times. Chris Barrett will lead for the four and his singles skills will help enormously. Singles player Ross Ellery has had an erratic season, failing to qualify in several events including the national club singles as he has experimented with different bowls. You can't buy experience like his however and I expect him to perform when the pressure is on. It is winner take all and   Wellington will be the toughest opponent for both genders but both Kapiti and Wairarapa will take their share of points.

Second Division teams will also compete but these do not go onto a national final. However bragging rights over big brother Wellington should be sufficient motivation to see these teams also lift their level of performance and I like the look of the men's second team.

• The Taranaki men's open fours has been and gone and Manawatu teams acquited themselves well. When play started there were 214 teams and after four days qualifying these were reduced to 57, nine of which were Manawatu combinations. From a starting point of 16 Manawatu teams that was a very creditable effort. Brian Little's team of the Henn Brothers Ron and Brian along with Wairarapa's Ian Monaghan had reached the final last year and they once again went the furthest with their last eight finish. Warren Hausman from Bulls had a team good enough to make the last 16 and while several fours went out in the first round of post section most losses were by narrow margins. In my view it remains New Zealand's pre-eminent tournament and the 25 end games remain the great drawcard.

• Many of our women bowlers played in Wanganui's very popular anniversary weekend pairs and Sharon Sims paired once again with her team mate of yesteryear Mary Campbell (Taupo) to finish runner-up.

• After being rained off a fortnight ago the women's national singles elimination will be completed on Saturday. All three quarter-final games had barely started when the rains came and the match-up between Sayles and Fran Frith will provide both with a tough workout going into Sunday's rep matches. The other games are between Emily Gray (Takaro) and Chris Quinn (Northern), and Ailsa Lindsay (Terrace End) playing Robyn Schischka from Johnston Park. Lyn Jensen, also Johnston Park has the bye to the semi-final and will play the winner of the Quinn/Gray match.

The men had 26 qualifiers in the event and will be down to a semi-final by Saturday night. I would expect the last four to include Skoglund but Barrett and last year's winner Ray Lovie are on a collision course to meet in the last eight and the winner of the first round clash between Mark Noble and Shane Rogers will no doubt have other ideas about that. Lovie buried his father this week and he will be keen on  a top performance to dedicate to him.

• All in all some top bowls in prospect over the weekend and any bowler wanting to improve their own game would do well to call at the various venues to watch and learn. Keep the news coming to tony.jensen@aon.co.nz

Tony Jensen

Update 24^th January 2012

The 10 year and under singles on Sunday 22 January was played in blustery conditions.

The eventual winner was Keith Hughes who having started the day with 2 lives had to play Bob Norris a second time to secure the title.

Keith and Bob.

The Men’s 1 and 2 year singles on Sunday 22 January was played in the same blustery conditions with Graham Black the eventual winner against Kevin Bryan.

Kevin and Graham.

Markers!

Markers will be required for the Men’s Senior Singles to be held on Saturday the 4^th of February.

While on the subject of Markers, the second day of the National Club Singles is on this coming Saturday the 28^th.  

10 Markers are required for the first round only.

If you can help by marking for either of these events then please put your name up or let Murray or myself know.

Waitangi Day – 6^th Feb - The Cameron Jewellery Open Mixed 2 bowl Triples – 9.30am Start.

We need to show our sponsors that we appreciate their sponsorship by supporting their tournaments.

If you are having problems getting a team together, put your name up as available. We may be able to help put you in a team.

Club Championship 65 year and over Singles - Starts on Friday the 27^th January. Not a lot of entries so far so get your name in quickly.

Update 20^th January 2012

Just a reminder that this weekend the Club is holding Championships events for the 10 year and under Men and Ladies on Saturday and Sunday.

On Monday it is the turn of the Senior Men’s pairs.

If you are not going away for the long weekend, why not pop down and support our 10 year and under players on Saturday and Sunday and the Senior Men on the Monday?

The 1st day 10 years and under pairs on Saturday 21 January.

The 2nd day of the 10 year and under singles on Sunday 22 January.

The 1st day Men’s 1 and 2 year singles on Sunday 22 January.

On Monday the 23rd of January, is the 1st day of the Senior  Men’s pairs.

Bowls Testing.

These video’s describe different types of bowls on a testing table, including differences between lawn bowls.

Russ Heys at “Bowls Direct” created these video’s and you might find them interesting.

The You Tube is Link below.

Copy the links then paste them into your browser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20LlGzxN8X0&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfRUPIwVX_E&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BAML7BJ3jw&feature=related

Update 11^th January 2012

Bowling on!

Tony Jensen has offered to make “Bowling On”, the column that he writes for the Manawatu Standard, available to put up on our Blog Site.

Here it is for the first time. Thanks Tony.

Bowling On - 11/01/2012

Manawatu Centre's bowling season re-ignites over the weekend with the playing of the National Club singles for both genders.

The men's entry of 44 is pleasing but the women's entry of 12 is paltry and at a level that make's running the event questionable. Before the month is out 14 women players will be required at the annual quadrangular representative event and I would have expected all players hoping for a spot to have entered.

Granted singles is not everyone's cup of tea but for competitive practice alone there is nothing to match it. Feona Sayles (Northern), Fran Frith (Terrace End) and Robyn Schischka (Johnston Park) have all performed well at the recent National Championships and New Zealand Open and I would expect to see them prominent when post-section draws are done. Only four of the Centre's 16 Clubs are represented with a pleasing four from Takaro, the same from Northern and two each from Johnston Park and Terrace End. I am staggered a club like Palmerston North cannot raise a single entry and they are at home.

The men's will play two sections at Northern and one at Palmerston North and that has a "section from hell" look about it. Included are in form current reps and centre title winners Clayton Simpson, Mark Noble, Ray Lovie, Chris Barrett, Brian Looker, Phillip Skoglund jnr, Lawrie Gordon and Ross Ellery. Lovie will meet Ellery first up in what should be a humdinger of a match and Lovie will then have to face Looker who plays Skoglund first up.

There is still much in the way of quality in the other sections with previous winners Craig Gush and Shane Rogers heading section A which also includes Terry Johnson, Steve Toms and Scotty Mc Gavin. Rogers and Gush meet in the second round in the pick of the match-ups for the section. In form bowlers in the B section Include Barry Wynks, Cameron Nairne, Grant Simms and Terry Rossiter while the last round will have "a old timers day" look about it when Terry Puklowski (Johnston Park) and Northern's maestro Phil Skoglund snr play each other. In their prime both were formidable singles exponents.

The women's post section will be played on the Sunday but the men will wait till later in the month. I am sure the improved men's entry is directly attributable to not playing on the Sunday, traditional migration day for bowlers heading to the country's most popular tournament the Taranaki Open fours.

Sixteen teams will represent the Centre taking 64 bowlers away from singles eligibility if they were played that day. Brian Little's Palmerston North team which finished runner-up last year after being forced indoors for the final heads the Manawatu contingent. Little is joined by the Henn brothers Brian and Ron in the front end with Wairarapa's top bowler Ian Monaghan completing the four.

Ray Lovie has Cameron Fitzgerald, Grant Simms and Shane Rogers with him and they have the talent to go a long way in the tournament. Similarly the Takaro combination of Terry Curtis, Lawrie Gordon, Terry Rossiter and Barry Wynks will acquit themselves well.

Our best combination on paper is the Northern/Palmerston North composite of Craig Gush (a previous winner), Pat Horgan, Steve Toms and Cameron Nairne. As for the rest of us we are probably making up the numbers but several more are good enough to qualify and anything can happen when bowlers are in form.

• Our representation at the National Championships was small but all acquited themselves well. In the men's singles both Brian Schischka (Johnston Park) and Adam Johnston (Northern) went three rounds of post section while Schischka's wife Robyn made the last 16 in the pairs with ex Northern player Sue Way. They were eliminated 16-14  by Genevieve Baildon and Jan Shirley the eventual winners. Feona Sayles from Northern also qualified for both pairs and singles with Schischka and Way also qualifying in the individual discipline.

• Much has been made of of Mandy Boyd making three finals and losing them all but it should not be overlooked her sister Angela also made two finals. Their time will come again and the only way to lose a final is be in it.

• Men's tournament star was undoubtedly Blake Signal who won the pairs and fours and will force the hands of the National selectors soon.

Tony Jensen

Reminder - Markers for the National Club Singles

The Northern Club is hosting the National Club Singles this coming Saturday the 14th.

14 Markers are required.

If you can help out then please put your name on the list or let Murray know.

Update 9^th January 2012

Happy New Year to you all.

Results of the 10 year and under Men’s and Ladies singles.

These club championships were played last Saturday 7th of Jan 12 in perfect conditions for bowls.

Ladies winner was Jaimee Smith who beat Christina Bryan in a very close final.

Men’s are down to 3 with Keith Hughes on 2 life’s and Garry (Harry) Mills and Bob Norris 1 life each.

Garry gets the bye into the next round.

Many thanks to the markers who gave their time for the day.

Due to the greens being flooded the 10 year and under men’s and ladies pairs scheduled for the

Sunday the 8th of  January were cancelled and will now be held on the 21 and 22^nd of this month.

Please note slight changes for these men’s events as follows:

The 1^st day 10 years and under pairs now Saturday 21 Jan and not Sunday 22. 

(As the draw was not done I Will take further entries up till Thursday 19 Jan 5pm.)

The 2^nd day of the 10 year and under singles will now be Sunday 22 Jan and not Saturday 21.

The 1^st day Men’s 1 and 2 year singles will now be Sunday 22 Jan and not Sun 29 Jan.

(Entries close Thursday 19 Jan at 5pm)

Murray

National Club Singles

The Northern Club is hosting the National Club Singles this coming Saturday the 14th.

Markers are required.

If you can help out then please put your name on the list or let Murray know.