Update 2nd December  2014.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

The return to the use of Open Tournaments to provide Pathways to higher honours got away to a successful start last weekend. Throughout the weekend, the winners somehow survived a ferocious buffeting by the now familiar gales that have dogged bowlers this season, and there seemed to be general approval of the format which ensured completion within the two days. This system will be used in all except the Singles events, which revert to the time honoured two life system. Liz Rossiter, supported by Ann Corlett, Janine Noble and Tania Harris took the Women’s event, preventing Bev Budd from edging closed to the mark of 40 Centre titles which is said to be her ultimate aim. With her economical style and equable temperament, Liz now rates highly among our top woman players. I recall a time when, as Liz Huckstep, she was also a force to be reckoned with in Hawkes Bay tennis circles, and time has shown her to be a formidable sportswoman.

The team to beat in the Men’s event appeared to be Mark Noble’s heavyweight side including Craig Gush, Philip Skoglund and Terry Johnson, but the gales proved to be a leveller, and vast experience finally triumphed. This was surely a factor in the very tight victory won by Brian Looker’s Palmerston North side over  Barry Wynks’ Takaro team, which included Terry Rossiter, husband of Liz. The decisive shot for Looker on a nail-biting final end, a trail of the jack to near the ditch, was played by Ron Henn. As a tough competitor and always a hard nut to crack, Ron’s second Centre title was well overdue. He has two recent runner-up performances at the Taranaki Open Fours in Brian Little’s Four. Brother Brian Henn was also part of those Taranaki performances. His Centre Singles win last year clinched an overdue Gold Star, and he is arguably the most experienced and formidable front-end bowler in the Centre. The Looker combination also went for experience in the Lead position, occupied by Eric Watson, a.k.a ‘The Fly’. Eric has been a force on the Manawatu scene for more than half a century. Originally heard of as a youthful hot-shot from Pahiatua, he was encouraged to play on this side of the Ranges by Kevin Wing, whom he partnered in the Pairs when Manawatu famously won its only victory in the old Rothmans Inter-Centre event at Christchurch . Eric did take a long time to clinch his Gold Star, and memorable among a large number of runner-up disappointments was a loss to the fast rising star Russell Meyer in a Singles final played in one of the worst Spring gales on record. The best display of skill I can recall from ‘The Fly’ though, was long ago at Hokowhitu when he took both lives in an afternoon from the legendary Vic Sellars to win the Open Singles. These two classic matches were played on a glass-like surface that suited Eric’s noted affection for the wide drawing side of the rink. From all this we know that there will be no shortage of experience in the Fours teams wending their way north to Gisborne for the regional eliminations.

Thanks Denis.