Update 23^rd  September  2015.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

Two recently confirmed moves by top players will  make a significant impact on relative club strength in the new season. The big one is the move by Philip Skoglund to the  strong and famously cashed-up Eastbourne club, competing in the Wellington Centre’s Interclub. Eastbourne has previously imported national legend Gary Lawson and former NZ Singles champion Justin Goodwin in their quest for the kudos of being the top club in the country. Former top Manawatu player Ray Lovie also plays there, and Philip’s arrival will further add to their strength. The Wellington Interclub season is much longer than the Manawatu one, and this extended competition at a good level will appeal to Philip. Locals will surely wish him well in the light of his long and dedicated service to Manawatu. Philip’s illustrious father, the late Phil Skoglund, also trod the Wellington greens for a couple of seasons when in his prime in the early 1960’s . This was when he had just the first of his National Singles titles in his CV, and before he became established as an all-time great in the game. Just how the move will affect Philip’s representative status remains to be clarified. Northern’s ace Singles player, Terry Johnson, already a full Palmerston North member, has now made himself available to represent the Centre’s most numerous club in this season’s Interclub. These moves leave a gaping hole in the top echelon of players at Northern, and will make it a real challenge for the traditionally strong North St club to repeat last season’s success. Johnson’s shift must further position Palmerston North as favourites this season.

The recent opening of the Manawatu Centre’s season at Johnston Park was favoured by idyllic weather conditions and was greatly enjoyed by all participants. So well were the Johnston Park greens running that many of the early deliveries ended up in the ditch, and their superb condition so early in the season earned many plaudits. Johnston Park will be the venue on 18th October for an Under 8yrs representative match involving the Wairarapa, Kapiti and Manawatu Centres. This fixture will be an important part of the build-up to the national Under 8yrs event which Manawatu bypassed last season but are preparing for in earnest this time. The winners on the day were the Takaro trio of Ian Johnson, Kevin Dustin and Brian Jarvis.

Thanks Denis.

Update 11^th September  2015.

Notes of interest from the Club Captain

Opening Day

Keep fingers crossed for a fine day for our opening which is on Saturday September 19. We will be playing for the Herbert Plate with games to begin at 1:00pm. Club colours please. We plan to have the new club booklet available for you on Opening Day.

Te Raki Cup

This is to be held on Saturday September 26 at Takaro with a 10:00am start. Names on the board please or return email to me.

Men’s Pants and Shorts.

A reminder that samples of these are in the clubrooms for you to try. Please read the notes on the board carefully as they relate to the different sizing of the pants and shorts. A reminder also that the final product will be the same green as our shirts, with a back pocket on the pants as well as a permanent crease. Order form on the board.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

As a new season arrives with a menacing chill still in the air, the recipe for stemming the rapid leakage of players from our game remains as elusive as ever, but there’s no lack of positivity among the many keen bowlers looking forward to  what lies ahead in the coming months. There have been successful outcomes for locals from events played during the Winter at Hawkes Bay’s Heretaunga indoor facility and in pre-season tournaments held in the Kapiti region. Shane Rogers started last season with a run of top results, and going into the last round of the Keith Elliott VC Invitation Fours held annually at Raumati South he was right on track for something similar. Shane had a powerful line-up in front of him in the form of Scotty McGavin, Darryl Johnson and Adam Johnston, but a slip-up in the final round saw the main prize go to a side paying long odds with the bookies. This was the Terrace End combo of Scruff Anderson ,Wally Parker, Dave Gibb and Ted Hodgson – a great win for them, but then any astute Bowls watcher knows that a team with ‘Tip-Top’ at Lead will always be dangerous. In times past the Webber Shield Open Fours was a prestigious extended event not dissimilar to the Taranaki Open, and run annually by the Heretaunga Club in Hastings on its now vanished outdoor set-up. These days it’s a three day indoor event still run by Heretaunga on its new site, where Takaro’s Barry Wynks has featured in several recent finals with various combinations. This time Barry was denied by a fine performance from the Johnston Park combo of of Tony Jensen, Stephen Love, Bruce Mudgway and Bruce Harris. Later on, at the same Hastings venue, the Palmerston North Triple of Phil Austin, Dean Gilshnan and Brial Looker took out a Classic Triples event. Then, just last weekend, Dean combined with Terry Johnson to win the Plate event at the Paraparaumu Beach Club’s Invitation 2x4x2 three day Pairs tournament.

The Palmerston North club recently farewelled its long-term greenkeeper, Ken Murray, into a well-earned retirement. Having the benefit of Ken’s undoubted expertise, shrewdness and experience for so long has been a priceless asset for the Centre’s oldest club, and Ken’s replacement, Matt Van Rysewyk, will be well positioned to follow many of the guidelines left behind by Ken.

The Takaro Club is nothing if not innovative, and a current initiative there may well see a series of evening tournaments contested under floodlights during the Summer. The lighting involved will be at a level sufficient for Bowls, but not of enough brightness to create a nuisance for neighbours.

This season’s Centre programme reveals a discernible move to   hold important events later than previously, hopefully avoiding as much as possible of the wild Spring weather, but the first event of significance will again be the Pathways Mixed 2x4x2 Pairs held over Labour Weekend.

Thanks Denis.