Update 12^th Mar 2013.

Congratulations to the Northern Ladies Second Division teams who qualified for National Finals in Palmerston North on March 23^rd and 24^th.

The winning team was Julianne Mills, Lynlea Rogers, Carol Davidson, Christina Bryan, Julie Palmer, Jacinta Cousins and Sue Meyer. Manager Pat Baker. Well done girls!
Congratulations also to Northern's first division Men’s and Ladies teams who finished  second to Bowls Napier and Gisborne respectively.

Craig Gush playing Singles in the first division went through unbeaten. 

Bowling On - 12^th March 2013.

Northern's Arohanui Hospice fundraising tournament takes place this Saturday and it is now etched into the bowls programme as one of the absolute must enter events on the calendar.

It is not the biggest event, it has little in the way of prizes but it brings bowlers together in a spirit of common purpose like no other tournament can. During it's lifespan the tournament has raised over $100000 towards the running of one of our community's greatest assets and I don't mean assets in a bricks and mortar sense.

The tournament is not about winning although inevitably there are stacked teams like any event. Barry Gush has deputised son Craig to assist with the running these days and their good marketing has seen a capacity field of 48 teams enter. Apart from four games of bowls there is a bumper raffles table and an auction afterwards which usually provides plenty of entertainment. Bowlers not participating and members of the public will be most welcome to call at Northern and spend a few dollars. I'm looking forward to it and will line up for the pre-match breakfast as well.

• There may be 192 bowlers lining up in the Hospice tournament but last weeks Golden Oldies at Palmerston North remains unchallenged as the Centre's biggest event with 320 bowlers participating. It was my first foray into this event for the "aged" but any suggestion that it was not competitive or qualitative were soon dispelled. I witnessed some wonderful bowls over the four days and intense competition with five divisions vying for prize money over the last two days.

Robbie Robertson from Wanganui East had two club mates in Cyril Evans and Peter Raymond with him and their fourth player, Ces Bell from Napier skipped the team. Winning 11 games on the trot in any company is a wonderful effort. It was the first time I had played with my skip Barry Wynks and lead Pat O'Neil from Heretaunga while I had enjoyed the company of Terry Curtis at the National fours earlier in the year. We managed to finish second and like everyone I talked to we'll be back next year.

As with most tournaments that are enduring Palmerston North do not muck round with the format and that club's organisation with support from Terrace End is outstanding. When you see how successful and well supported an over sixties event is it is a timely reminder to Bowls New Zealand where the game's real strength lies. It is not with those in the younger age bands.

• The centre's event for two year and under bowlers the Hibiscus Cup was held last Sunday and the remarkable occurrence was that Kimbolton, one of the Centre's tiniest clubs provided the most entries with six and the winning pair Justin Wyatt and Kendra Perkins. The tournament has been a Terrace End benefit in recent times but no one would have expected that dominance to end this way. Runners-up were Ross Martin and Gary Boyd from Terrace End.

Regional Interclub finals were held in Napier last weekend and Northern missed out in both premier divisions But took out women's Division Two and Palmerston North grabbed the men's equivalent. Both teams will go on to the New Zealand finals.

Also being played this week in Napier are the regional National Club Championships and our champion of champion winners are representing our centre in the four gender disciplines while Janeen Noble and Barry Wynks play the mixed 2-4-2 pairs.

Some good bowls to be had in the next few weeks and the negative affects of the drought are balanced by great bowling conditions in the Autumn.

TONY JENSEN

Thanks Tony.