Update 18^th Feb 2013.

That is very sad news I read in Tony’s article about Harry Turner passing away yesterday.

Northern lost a true stalwart of the Club with his passing.

He will be missed around the club and those other venues where Harry turned up to support to his fellow bowlers.

Below is a photo I took back in around 2004 of Harry watching bowls with his old mate Cossie!

Harry and Cossie.

Bowling On 18^th Feb

Manawatu's representative bowling season culminates on Friday and the weekend when top sevens from both genders compete at the National Intercentre in Auckland.

Last weekend's tournament against Taranaki and Hawkes Bay was more about getting hard play into individuals rather than the result, clashing as it did with the champion of champion singles. Several front line players were involved with that event and so were only available when eliminated. The men's four played extra well especially when demolishing a highly regarded Taranaki combination.

Selector Eric Watson would have had some alarm at the form of his pair of Philip Skoglund (skip) and Craig Gush but Gush had come off a testing day's singles where he had lost the final of the champion of champions. The same day had seen Skoglund celebrating his fiftieth birthday so his concentration levels may have been down a little.

Our men tell me they have an extra tough draw in Auckland with Thames Valley, Gisborne-East Coast, Waikato, Canterbury and Dunedin but I think it looks soft compared to what the women face. Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury, North Harbour and South Canterbury looks a real ugly draw. But if you want to win a New Zealand title you have to beat them all at some stage and you might as well eliminate them in section play.

Teams are: Men, Ross Ellery singles, Skoglund (skip) and Gush pairs, Pat Horgan (skip) Mark Noble, Barry Wynks and Cameron Nairne fours. Women, Feona Sayles singles, Mary Fryer (skip) and Janeen Noble pairs, Sheryn Blake (skip), Anna Davis, Robyn Schischka and Georgie Kahui-Rogers fours.

• It should have been high celebration in the Jensen household on Saturday night after Lyn's fearless win over Feona Sayles in the champion of champion singles but alas her husband slept right through her arrival home. The stress of a day out at Managatainoka had taken its toll! Those who watched tell me it was a cracker of a final as was Stephen Love's for Te Kawau in the men's event. Two wins to country clubs on the Saturday was  great to see but the David versus Goliath type performance of Shannon in winning the triples was an effort to please any lover of the underdog. Terrace End's Blake, Kahui-Rogers and Sharon Groves looked in control till four ends from home when they dropped a three for Shannon to draw level from where they assumed control. Lyn Metcalfe, Toni Blayney and Sharon Robbie will still be grinning from ear to ear me thinks and rightly so. The only city club to record a win was Palmerston North in the men's triple. Chris Barrett followed his fours win by adding the triples but this time with different team mates in Steve Toms and Eric Watson. It had to be a city victory whatever, the losing triple being Noble, Terry Johnson and Bruce Harris from Northern.

• Manawatu Bowls lost a true identity with the passing of Harry Turner on Sunday. Harry knew everyone and everyone knew Harry and he turned up for a look everywhere and anywhere bowls was played. By his own admission "just a club bowler" I well remember Harry's delight when he won Northern's championship triples with Phil  Skoglund some years ago with.

Earlier in life Harry had umpired hockey to test level and it was said he would have been there more often but for the conflict of his brother Bruce being in the New Zealand team. Harry was also extensively involved with yachting in earlier times. He was a great maker of wooden toys and many of his wares adorned the raffle and sales tables at the Northern Hospice tournament. I will miss this gentleman of sport.

• Speaking of the Hospice tournament organiser Craig Gush asks that you get your entries in. Men, women, non bowlers - all are welcome and fill your wallet before you go. The auction is always a highlight.

TONY JENSEN

Thanks Tony.

Club Roll Up

Club Roll up this coming Sunday afternoon 24^th Feb 1pm start. 

A drawn event, the format will be decided by the numbers attending.

Put your name up on the Blackboard or ring the club between 11am and noon on Sunday the 24^th.

There are already a few names on the board.

Be warned though! The standard of play at these Sunday Roll ups is awesome.

This is the sort of form you will be competing with!