Update 26^th March 2012.

The winning Team of the Ladies division one Bowls NZ National Interclub Championships in Auckland last week will be at the Club this Friday from 5pm.

The Club will be putting on a few nibbles and invite you to come down to the Clubrooms to join our new Bowls NZ National Interclub Champions and help celebrate their win.

65 and over Singles Champion of Champion

Congratulations to this year’s Champion, Colin Lozell.

Well done Colin.

On Saturday the 31^st of March the Club is holding an Open, Any Gender Pairs Tournament Sponsored by Burr Contractors.  9:30am start.

Support our Sponsor and get your team in early.

Update 24^th March 2012

First-time Victory for Northern Women - Interclub Champions.

The team
Quoted from Bowls NZ web site - A final intense round of singles, pairs and fours today decided the division one winners at the Bowls NZ National Interclub Championships in Auckland, handing the men's and women's trophies to first-time winners Frankton Railway Bowling Club (Waikato) and Northern Bowling Club (Manawatu), respectively.

It came down to the wire for both teams, however, and there were no clear winners right up until the final ends.

“We were in the middle of the field yesterday and then at dinner we said anything is possible, we'll just go out there and play,” said Sharon Sims, club team selector and Commonwealth Games gold medallist (pairs discipline in 2002)

Skipping the Northern women's pairs team, Sims knew what to do when the final round was looming and the pressure was on. Her answer: “just play one bowl at a time”.

“We had a clean round this morning, and then coming into the final round someone gave us the chart [results]. The team started studying the chart, so I picked it up and turned it over and said 'it doesn't matter, we just go out there and play one bowl at a time.' And that's what everyone did.”

“They stuck to their guns and did the simple things well, which is all you have to do,” the multiple world champion said.

“It's the first time at the Nationals that the Northern women have won, to my knowledge. We've won division two before, twice. So this is a real thrill to win the first division, and do it away.”

With so many titles to her name, it's a wonder Sims still finds such enjoyment in a national club event, but the Palmerston North resident is adamant she enjoys every minute of the competition.

“I've always loved Interclub. I really enjoy it and it's my favourite domestic event, by far really. It's the camaraderie of being with your clubmates and doing battle with other clubs.”

Congratulations Ladies and very well done!

Update 21^st  March 2012

Bowling On – 21^st March 2012.

As we march inexorably towards the end of the bowling season It is probably timely to undertake some introspection and properly look at the state of the game in the Manawatu.

It is well to remember I make these comments as a Columnist and not as the President of the Manawatu Bowling Centre. I was a columnist before I joined the Centre executive and while there are naturally overlaps my personal perspectives may not be the views of my fellow executive members. Hopefully I can provoke discussion and feedback on the following views:-

1. Not all clubs are in a healthy state. We are seeing a lack of volunteers and an aging group of mid-weekers means there are fewer capable of undertaking the heavy work when greens are renovated.

2. Club member numbers are back which is an undeniable fact and revenue falls accordingly.

3. Centre Events and National and regional commitments are taking up far too many days. Why do we run open centre events and champion of champions? Champion of of champions sorts out true club champions as teams first need to see off all their home competition then the best of the rest in the centre. Why not make those teams the ones that go forward to National Club championships instead of starting from scratch again? Centre events no longer appeal to rank and file bowlers.

4. The make up of the Centre executive is archaic in its structure and those eligible for election. Currently only club delegates can be elected to the centre which clearly can deny other bowlers an opportunity they may be very suited to and relish. The make up still sticks rigidly to numbers split equally by gender even though there are nearly three times the number of males as females playing the game. Availability and capability should be the criteria not by Club or gender.

5. We have too many greens in the centre. My view is Clubs are better off reviewing the number of greens they use rather than looking to amalgamate as a solution. One first class green is more an asset than three average or poorer greens.

6. Unstructured bowls such as "mates in bowls" and business house remain popular but do not result in members coming into the traditional game. Why not? Time is the enemy and the traditional game takes too long.

7. The game doesn't look attractive. Little colour and no carnival atmosphere.

8. Bowlers feel alienated from Bowls NZ and perceive they are not interested in club bowlers other than for the capitation fees they provide.

I hate negativity but unless we front some of these issues the game will continue to decline. I don't expect I'll get much feedback but a few volunteers on the Centre who are stretched enough anyway running day to day affairs can't provide the catalyst for change that we need, Clubs need to collectively work together if we are to change for the better.

* I was privileged to play in the Men’s Masters tournament this week played between Manawatu, Hutt Valley, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Wanganui and Wellinton. Manawatu finished third and after five rounds the points range was 22 to 20 making it the closest tournament I have ever seen. And yes the rumours are correct my four (the rest of whom seek anonymity) did lose 25-0 to Wellington. A reminder for all of us that this game always has a humility lesson close at hand!

* Last week our women's Masters finished one better in their tournament with Bev Budd not dropping a game. She remains an extraordinary competitor.

* It is the time of year when tournaments take precedence with champion of champion events all but over. Several Clubs have asked me to promote their upcoming tournaments and there have been just too many to list. I would ask bowlers to look at your centre books to see what's ahead and give some support to your fellow clubs.

* Our Centre will be represented by two fours (Terrace End's Fran Frith and Palmerston North's Brian Little) when the national Club finals are held in Invercargill next month. Both teams are up for travel costs of over $2000 and both are busy fundraising. Please support their major fundraiser which is a triples tournament at Terrace End on Easter Monday.

* Speaking of Terrace End they hosted a very good finals day for champion of champion events last Sunday. I thought their number three green played beautifully. Good to see their greenkeeper Terry Rossiter rewarded for his good form this season with a fours win in the Takaro team.

* National Interclub and Intercentre finals are being played at Howick this weekend and good luck to Northern women and both our representative teams.

Tony Jensen

Update 19^th March 2012

Hospice Tournament update.

Well done to all involved.

Champion of Champion Triples.

Congratulations to Craig Gush, Doug Hayward and Derek McKee for winning the Champion of Champion Triples at Terrace End yesterday. Well done!

Doug, Derek and Craig.

The final of the Clubs Senior Men’s pairs was finally played yesterday and won by the Father and Son team of Barry and Craig Gush. They defeated Mark Noble and Derek McKee. A pretty successful day for the Gush family all in all. Well done to both of you. Good luck at the Champion of Champion Pairs on the 31^st of March.

The Men's Intermediate Triples were played at the Club yesterday and the competition was won by Adam Johnston and his team of Lindsay Elston and Harold Bailey.  Well done.

The Club sent a team to Ashhurst on Saturday to challenge for the Dixon Cup. The team consisted of Philip Skoglund, Kevin Suisted, myself and Des Meyer.

The cup was successfully lifted from the Ashhurst club and now resides in the Northern Clubs Trophy Cabinet. (Well, the picture of it does!)

Coming up.

There is nothing scheduled for the club this coming weekend however, keep a lookout in your email inbox and the notice board at the Club as there may well be a Club Roll Up organised for either day depending on the weather outlook.

On Saturday week the 31^st of March there is the Burr Contractors, Any Gender Pairs.

Apart from the 3 day Easter Tournament the following week, this is the last Open Tournament scheduled to be played at the Club this season.  Support our Sponsors, get your team together and let’s make this a 3 green Tournament. 

Update 12^th March 2012.

Another very successful Hospice Tournament is done and dusted. Everyone had a good time starting with the well-attended breakfast then onto the greens for 4 games. The weather was perfect and it was great to see all three greens full of bowlers.

All games were played in Great Spirit and a lot of fun was had. Skips were rotated and some even played left handed. I think the identification of the skip by wearing of the pink wig was a great innovation.

Winners of the Tournament were Ray Lovies Team consisting of Ray, Grant Simms, Shane Rogers and Cam Fitzgerald.

Bowling is over and everyone is relaxing and getting ready for the Raffle results to be published and the Auction to begin.

Coming up.

This weekend (Saturday) the club is hosting the Champion of Champion Triples. If you have a bit of spare time, pop down to have a look. There will be some very good bowls being played and your Club Representatives will appreciate your support.

On Sunday 18th March -


Men's Intermediate Triples.


Gwen Mackenzie Cup - Ladies Drawn Pairs 10am start.
Note:- Entries for this event close on Saturday evening 17th March at 6pm.

Bowling On – 12^th March 2012

It was a hectic last week for bowls in the Manawatu but the real highlight for me had little to do with matters played out on a green.

I refer of course to Northern's fundraising tournament for Arohanui Hospice last Saturday and the $6000 mark was passed for the first time. It does the heart good to see Clubs banding together for a common cause and while there is a bowling tournament attached to the day it was very much secondary. For the record Ray Lovie's team won the trophy which was quite fitting as his father passed away in Wellington's Te Omanga Hospice very recently.

I must commend overall convenor Barry Gush and all Northern's members for their efforts in preparing and hosting the day. Barry has "retired" from the role several times only to be drawn back each time.

Another Club which needs commending is Palmerston North who during the week ran their fantastically successful "Golden Oldies" men’s tournament which drew a capacity field of 80 once again. Every aspect of the tournament goes like clockwork and visitors rate it as their season highlight. Open to over sixties, the tournament always attracts new entrants once they reach the big 60 but a few players always exit at the top end as well. Takaro runs a shortened version for women in tandem which complements the men's tournament well.

Top competitive bowls was back in the limelight on Sunday however with the playing of Champion of Champion fours for both genders. Both tournaments are down to finals which will be played at Terrace End this Sunday along with the triples finals provided weather does not interfere with the first day on Saturday.

Almost predictably the men's fours final will be between Palmerston North (Pat Horgan, Chris Barrett, Wayne Mouldey and Eric Watson) and Takaro (Barry Wynks, Terry Rossiter, Lawrie Gordon and Terry Curtis) but not before Takaro had a near thing against Bulls in their semi-final and Palmerston North had a fiercely contested match against Johnston Park. Wynks trailed by four going into the last end but his team drew five shots to secure an unlikely win.

The women's final will be between Hokowhitu and Bulls which continues excellent performances for both these clubs in champion of champion events over the last two seasons.

• Regional national club championship eliminations were also held during the week and it was lean pickings for Manawatu overall. Terrace End women and Palmerston North men both won through in the fours and now are faced with having to fund their travel to the national finals at Invercargill in April. With the blessing of the Centre a fundraising triples tournament has been organised at Terrace End on Easter Monday 9 April (9-30 start) and it warrants support from clubs. Entries to Terrace End and it will be opened up to your social and mates in bowls players who may like a taste of the competitive game. See you there.

• I have had reports of successful tournaments at Woodville and Hokowhitu recently and there are several on this week. Johnston Park are still seeking entries for their any gender triples on Friday.

• The Manawatu Masters (over 60) Representative team will play its annual tournament with Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kapiti, Wanganui and Wairarapa at Palmerston North next Monday and Tuesday and there are some great names from the past competing. Jim Madden and Lou Cancian from Hutt Valley, Lou Newman, John Earles and Howard Ivory from Wellington and our own Phil Skoglund are among the more prominent. The Manawatu team is; Singles Terry Puklowski, Pairs Phil Skoglund (s) and Brian Henn, Triples Barry Evans (s), Clark Norris and Derek McKee, Fours Tony Jensen (s), Keith Walker, Ron Henn and Gerry Firth.

• Thanks to some excellent assistance from that student of the game Grant Hassell of Taranaki I now only have one gap in rebuilding the Centre's men's title record. The one omission is the 2001/02 champion of champion triples. The previous year's (2000/01) winners were Gavin Harrison, Bill Tottenham and Ron Abraham from Foxton Beach. In the succeeding year (2002/03) Eric Dixon, Jim Burt and Neil Gordon from Hokowhitu scored the first of two consecutive wins. Hopefully those details will jog the memory of someone who can complete the gap and I can publish the records.

Tony Jensen