Update 30^th  December  2014.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

Manawatu has been slow to join the national trend towards artificial greens, with the Tiger Turf at Takaro the only local example of the species. Despite the obvious savings in greenkeepers’ wages and the potential for Winter bar turnover, the reasons for this have been generally sound. This region’s natural greens have long been among the very best in the country, and it’s well accepted that the first problem-free artificial surface has yet to be created. However, there is another synthetic surface tucked away on the fringes of the city which more than justifies its existence, despite being a mini-version with only three rinks. This is the green found at the Julia Wallace Retirement Village, where a small group of residents sharpen their skills on a regular basis. Bevan Hyde, many times a Manawatu representative and title winner at Northern, probably has the best track record of the group. It also includes a highly talented veteran who helped inflict a lot of pain on my team in a recent Skoglund Triples clash between traditional rivals Northern and Palmerston North. This is Noel Kensington, patriarch of a family of outstanding sportsmen. Noel has been a member at Northern continuously since 1946. His forte was tennis, and, with son Bruce, followed by grandson Michael, he began a remarkable extended era of domination of the honours board by the Kensingtons. Returning to Bowls though, Noel remains an outstanding Lead in any company, and he certainly sowed the seeds of our demise in fast, windy conditions. Playing in the middle of Noel’s team under Skip Colin Lozell that day was another formidable opponent with superior sports credentials in Ron Sandilands. Ron has long been a respected figure in both Table Tennis and Badminton circles, and has represented New Zealand in several sports. He has joined the bowling ranks only in recent years, but brings a wealth of sports wisdom to the greens.

Yet another tough competitor from Northern whom I’ve battled in recent weeks is Ann Corlett. This time a highly prized Christmas ham was on the line, and it didn’t take long to find out why Ann is the most recent bowler in the Centre to join the coveted list of Gold Star holders. Her crucial fifth victory came with the side skipped by Liz Rossiter that won the Pathways Open Fours, and it was only last year that Ann also reached Regional level when she won the 2x4x2 Pairs with Doug Hayward.   

Thanks Denis.

A happy and a safe New Year to all.

Update 23rd December  2014.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

We’re led to believe that when a powerful beast emerges from long hibernation, the rumblings are heard and felt all around. It was a bit like that last weekend when the word spread that Phil Skoglund Snr had won the Northern Club’s Singles title. I suspect that Phil himself has long forgotten how many times his name is on this trophy and on the record of past winners of the two Centre Singles titles, but it’s quite a while since he has seriously pursued them. Credit is due to Murray Wood, who took Phil’s first life and pushed him to 21-18 in the final, but the re-appearance of the old Master from Northern in the Champion of Champions event will be well worth watching. Ross Ellery’s victory in the Centre Open Singles on the same day was also pleasing. Ross’s obvious skill is backed by a phlegmatic and unflappable temperament. He’s a tough and dogged opponent with four bowls, and it’s surprising that his only previous Centre Singles title was in  Wellington many years back. The other three who made it to the last day, Dean Gilshnan, Graeme Cooley and Adam Johnston, would all have been worthy winners, and it was good to see a talented newcomer to this Centre narrowly fail to survive that far. Eryl Bocock of Northern has represented several New Plymouth clubs, with Paritutu the most recent, and has already proved to be a fine all-round player.

Attention now turns to the Open Pairs for both Men and Women, to be played at Terrace End early in the New Year. Phil and Philip Skoglund will team up in that one, as will Craig Gush with Raymond Skoglund, who is having his first competitive outing in well over a decade. A glance at the handbook for the 110th Taranaki Open Fours reveals that these four players are travelling together to that event where they have drawn one of the toughest sections. Entries are strong for both Women’s and Men’s Open Pairs, and in the Men’s event the format being used will make this the most cut-throat competition in ages. Only eight teams from around forty can qualify for the second day, meaning that even one narrow loss in section play will probably mean elimination. The Women’s event will follow the same format, and most of the contenders for Eric Watson’s representative sides are in the field.

Thanks Denis.

Update 9th December  2014.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

Carey Pratt from Terrace End features again in this week’s column, having added to his recent successes in Hamilton by defending the Hibiscus Cup along with Steve O’Connell. The winning Pair held off the chasing pack by one differential point, but ‘back to back’ wins in any event are an achievement to savour. There were suggestions from the ferociously keen field of Junior bowlers contesting the event on Takaro’s artificial surface that provision for a full round-robin or a final would have improved the format. These additions would of course demand more time, and probably an extra day, which may not be practical. However, there’s no doubting that the Centre’s novices may lack numbers, but not the will to win for their Club.

Janine Noble deserves plaudits for her part in the superb feat of defending her Pathways 2x4x2 title with Barry Wynks. Janine’s consistency in this event has been no fluke, and she clearly belongs among the Centre’s top echelon of Woman players. The final, played against Shane Rogers and Sheryn Blake, was not only the intensely fought contest that everyone expected. It also provided an absorbing battle between a team using the traditional wider drawing bowl and opponents wielding the latest style of weaponry. I thought that the even contest which ensued merely showed what we already knew – that both types have their merits.

The last but certainly not the least honourable mention this week goes to Dean Gilshnan, who nailed his first Senior Singles title at Palmerston North by decisively beating the best in the form of Pat Horgan. In the light of Dean’s formidable skills and national achievements indoors, this was a win that everyone knew was only a matter of time. It will surely also be only the beginning of greater things for an already outstanding player. Dean’s win became even more meritorious because he unavoidably missed the first round of the event, and, with the approval of the Club’s Match Committee, took the field in Round 2 with only one life to defend from the outset. It’s to be hoped that this final might start a trend too in terms of its timing. It was played in late Friday afternoon sunshine around the time club members were arriving in numbers for their refreshments and conviviality. It’s rumoured that Dean inveigled some unwilling associates, including his final opponent, into celebrations that lasted well into the night, but these reports remain unconfirmed.

Thanks Denis.

Update 8th December  2014.

Barry Gush turns 80.

Congratulations and Many Happy Returns Barry.

There was a gathering at the Club on the 28^th of November to help him celebrate.

(Click on the pic to enlarge it.)

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.