Update 30^th September  2013.

The weather was not kind over the weekend causing the cancellation of the Fitzherbert Rowe Any Gender triples on Sunday.

Good luck to the Northern Members going down to Paraparaumu this weekend.

Bowling On

30^th September.

The draw is out for the Centre Open singles and while there is a familiar look to much of the field there are some notable names missing.

The event will be played from 12-14 October and sections will be held at Woodville, Palmerston North (2), Johnston Park and Shannon. There is a reluctance from some clubs to host singles because of the need to provide markers but the two life system means exiting players should be able to mark all games after the second round.

The women's event has drawn 28 entries and Northern (10), Palmerston North (6) and Terrace End (6) provide the bulk of the entry with Takaro, Himatangi Beach, Hokowhitu and Johnston Park having a sole entry each and the remaining two being visitors from Taradale and Marton.

It is not a good omen for Johnston Park's ability to compete in the combined Wanganui interclub competition with a single entry.

Notably absent are Sharon Sims, Christine Quinn, Sophie Fisher and Lyn Jensen.

The men's event has drawn a field of 48 and 37 of those entries come from four clubs being Palmerston North (12), Northern and Terrace End (9 each) and the surprise package is an entry of seven from Himatangi Beach. The most notable absentees are Ross Ellery who is having a break from the game, fellow Representative bowler Chris Barrett and the promising Dean Gilshnan. Ellery has been a stand out as the Manawatu singles player and Barrett may well have have been in consideration for the spot if he had fronted for this tournament. Selector Terry Puklowski is unlikely to defer to the old guard with players like Pat Horgan and Philip Skoglund so there is a real opportunity for a younger bowler to stand up and say pick me.

The extremely talented Shane Rogers is one in that bracket but to use harness racing parlance he is on the unruly list and will need to alter a few behaviours to meet Puklowski's favour. Others in the younger bracket who could press for representative spots are Clayton Simpson and Michael Abraham who are now at Palmerston North and Michael Hodge.

• One of the stand out tournaments that is deserved of player support will be held at Palmerston North Bowling Club this Sunday. The Rescue Helicopter fundraiser is an any gender mufti fours and about $4000 was raised last year. Get your entries in and support this great cause that will touch us all at some stage.

• The annual hexagonal tournament for eight year and under bowlers will be held in Wanganui this coming weekend. Teams are; Men, Glen Curtis ,Alan Burton, John Osborne, Kevin Bryan, Rob Christiaans (all Takaro), Chance Hausman (Bulls), Mike Hodge (Terrace End), Michael Bowey (Palmerston North) and Graeme Black (Northern). Women, Ailsa Lindsay, Sharon Groves, Glenda O'Conner (Terrace End), Tania Harris (Northern), Christina Bryan (Takaro), Sophie Fisher, Michele Welsh (Himatangi Beach), Mary McConway, Beryl England (Palmerston North) and Kylie Yates (Ashhurst).

• Don't forget entries close for the Labour Weekend Centre 2-4-2 pairs this Friday 4 October.

Enjoy your bowls.

TONY JENSEN

Thanks Tony