Update 12^th  December 2012.

Bowling On – 12th December.

The World Bowls championship in Adelaide has come and gone and while New Zealand came away goldless their performance was better than some of the commentators are suggesting.

Val Smith continues to be our leading performer coming home with silver in singles and pairs, combining with Jo Edwards in the latter event. Both finals were lost to Australia and bowls like no other sport is a game where local knowledge is a huge advantage. You only have to look back to the last Worlds in New Zealand and remember how dominant our players were at home.

The women's triple of Mandy Boyd, Lisa White and Jan Khan also won silver and there must be a bitter sweet taste in the mouth of Boyd as she finished runner-up in three events at last years Nationals. Her time will come.

Our men brought home two bronze medals with one going to Shannon McIlroy in the singles. His rise to prominence continues.  The other bronze went to the triple of Ali Forsyth, Matt Gallop and Tony Grantham. Both genders continue to struggle in the fours discipline. World Bowls returns to Christchurch in 2016 and I am confident most of this team will be still together and a lot more streetwise by then.

• Manawatu has it's biggest complement of players heading to the National tournament than for many a year. The event will be staged in Taranaki from 28 December 2012 to 09 January 2013 and it is probably the attraction of relative closeness and outstanding greens that has attracted 32 men and 14 women bowlers from our Centre. I like the look of a composite team in the fours of Pat Horgan, Graeme Cooley and Ross Ellery from Palmerston North joined by Phillip Skoglund (Northern) playing at three but they have what can only be described as a draw from hell. They start with a very competitive looking Wanganui unit comprising Phil Corney, Selwyn Prescott, Tony Waikato and Phil Carey and then will be confronted by Black Jacks Ali Forsyth and Matt Gallop complemented by Lloyd Gallop and Graham Hood. They should hold out a team of New Plymouth locals but will then play Northern's Craig Gush and Cameron Nairne who team with the outstandingly performed Ray Park from Wanganui and John Walker from Browns Bay. They should get past two local sides in the last games if they are still alive and I would expect if they qualify they will be extra competitive in post section.

In singles I suggest Chris Barrett, Gush, Horgan, Ellery, Terry Johnson, Brian Looker, Adam Johnston, Darryl Johnson, Scotty McGavin, Skoglund, Brian Schischka and Grant Simms to be good chances to qualify in the mens event while Ngaire Cowen, Anna Davis, Sheryn Blake, Chris Quinn, Robyn Schischka and Feona Sayles should similarly achieve in the women's event

I am playing all disciplines myself and really look forward to the event which will be hosted by the most hospitable Centre in the country.

• Don't forget entries close for the New Year any gender Centre Triples on Monday 17th December and for the Dragonstone five year and under 2-4-2 pairs on 24 December with 6 January being the day it is played.

• Bowls lost a real good friend this week with the passing of Dannevirke's Trevor Baker. One of those people who was always toiling at something whenever you visited the club and although before my time a great lead in his day they tell me. I'll miss him, a true gentleman and thoroughly decent man.

TONY JENSEN

Thanks Tony.

Target Bowls

This Friday, December 14.

As well as money to be won on the night there will be prizes for aggregate scores, as well as spot prizes and some other fun stuff.  $5 entry with 50% paid out to the winner on the night, 30% to second and the remainder goes towards the spot prizes and surprises. Open to all – let’s see lots of you there for this final round. You may enter at any time between 4:30 and 6:30pm. A round takes approx 40 minutes to complete. Support the club and be there!

Northern Christmas Tournament and Social night 23^rd December.

Play starts 1.00pm followed by Christmas Meal.

A Northern Christmas party day join in the fun. Santa and Merry dress up optional.

Names on sheet for playing and meal please.

Ladies a salad dish, Men your favourite dessert.