Update 3^rd March  2014.

Our Annual Hospice tournament was once again a great success thanks to Barry and his team of helpers.

I am looking forward to hearing how much Barry has made for the Hospice this year.

Well done everyone.

The weather was great and everyone joined in to the spirit of the day and from my observations, had a ball.

Brian Looker’s team was the winner of the tournament. They were the defending champions.

Here are some pictures taken on the day. If you click on them, it should make them bigger. If there are any there you would like a copy of, let me know.

(Comment on Bowls by Denis Duffy for this week will follow the Hospice pictures.)

Comment on Bowls by Denis Duffy.

Some of the Centre’s smaller clubs have been taking the chance to shine recently, which is always good to see. The Champion of Champions event for  Over 65 Pairs was recently hosted by Ashhurst, and it wasn’t long before, as a well known former Radio Sport commentator used to say, there was ‘carnage on the greens’.  The larger and more favoured clubs quickly fell by the wayside, with The locals, skipped by Centre Vice-President Tony Woodley, disposing of the strong Palmerston North and Terrace End outfits outfits skipped by Eric Watson and Graeme Gosnell respectively. . ‘Woody’ fell in the the semi-finals, and the final was won comfortably by Shannon skip Graeme Woodmass, with the well performed Lyn Metcalfe leading. Shannon also made its mark in recent weeks when Dean Whiti reached the Senior Men’s Champion Singles final, only to go down to Darryl Johnson. The final between frontier clubs Shannon and Himatangi Beach in that prestigious event was probably unprecedented.

Across the ranges, Les Webster led the successful staging of a tournament supporting the Relay for Life charity at Woodville, a highly successful occasion that attracted an entry from as far north as Waipawa.

The major fixture of last weekend though was Barry Gush’s iconic Hospice Tournament at the Northern greens. The tally for the day was an amazing $8600, and Barry tells me that the innovative Himatangi Beach bowlers may have started a trend by turning up in fancy dress. If this catches on in the future, maybe the Hospice event might include some of the more desirable features of the Wellington Sevens.

At the Palmerston North greens, Lindsay Toms skipped his Rose and Crown combo to another victory in a very successful North Island Licensed Victuallers’ event. The final, against one of many Taranaki entries, went to an extra end, on which the leading of Ted ‘Tip Top’ Hodgson broke the hearts of his opponents, as had happened throughout the game and the tournament. A social highlight was provided by a Question and Answer session with TV Rugby commentator Grant Nisbett, who is a regular at this LVA event. ‘Nisbo’ was aided and abetted by the inimitable John Graham, also a member of the winning team.

Denis Duffy

Thanks Denis.