Update 22^nd October  2015.

Final Blog update.

Unless there is someone else out there who wishes to continue with this blog, this will be the final update.

(if someone out there is interested in continuing with it, let me know.)

I will now be limiting any postings of Club news, events, pictures and the like to our Facebook page only.

”Northern Bowling Club Palmerston North”

http://www.facebook.com/northernbowls

Please have a look at the page and (Like it).

You will then be able to keep up with what is happening at the Club.

 You will also be able to comment on any postings and make posts yourself.

If you don’t already have your own Facebook account, you may have to set one up.

If anyone needs help in doing this, I can help.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

The re-appearance after an absence of many seasons of Wayne Sellars in the colours of Johnston Park will add considerable spice to the Men’s Interclub series played over two consecutive Saturdays in November. Playing then out of Northern , Wayne took up the sport at a young age and became one of the undoubted stars who made Manawatu a major force in national Bowls during the golden era of the 1970’s and 80’s. Finishing with a double Gold Star and twelve Centre titles, he formed a lethal combination in Fours and especially in Pairs with his legendary father, Vic. However, Wayne’s Singles record in his heyday also ranked with the very best. He was unbeaten in the  solo position when Manawatu won the Rothmans national Inter-Centre title at Christchurch in 1980, ran second in the fabled Manawatu Lion Masters, and also won the Manawatu Open title when it drew a heavily loaded field of close to 200 entrants. Wayne represented the North Island, and at one stage was in serious contention for the national side. The game has changed during Wayne’s long period off the scene , with the advent of narrower drawing bowls and the more direct style of play that they bring, so he will face a real challenge in re-establishing himself among the elite. Free now of work commitments, he will lead in the Pairs for Tony Jensen at the sharp end of a likely-looking Johnston Park team that has seasoned campaigner Stephen Love playing the Singles. The Four is Skipped by Keith Walker, with Simon Westby, Colin Commerford and Terry Puklowski in front.

With the Palmerston Norh side announced some time ago, the remaining men’s teams who will contest Division 1 were unknown at time of writing. Hot off the press though was word of the Terrace End women’s team which will defend the title they won with plenty to spare last season. Mere Fryer, unbeaten in last season’s Inter-Centre finals, will play Singles, with Georgie Kahui-Rogers and Lynlea Rogers contesting the Pairs. Sheryn Blake will Skip the Terrace End Four, with the evergreen Bev Budd at Third. Taking care of the front end will be Ailsa Lindsay and Julia Wood.

Thanks Denis.

Notes of interest from the Club Captain.

G and G McKenzie Mixed Pairs

Unfortunately had to be cancelled.  Hoping to re-schedule this for later in the season

L.J Hooker Any Gender Open Triples – Thursday October 29

This is the first of our Thursday Open Triples and we hope that there will be many Northern entries. Sign up form in the clubhouse.

Labour Weekend Centre 2x4x2 Pairs – good luck to the Northern teams who have entered.

Weekend of October 31 – November 1

There are no scheduled bowling events listed in the handbooks for this weekend, but our match committee and selector have organised the following –

Saturday October 31 – Club roll up, 12:30 start. Names in by 12:00pm please. Teams will be drawn and organised depending on number of entries. This is an opportunity for all club members to get together and enjoy an afternoon’s bowls. There will be a sign up sheet for this on the notice board. Mufti dress.

Julia Wallace Ladies Gala Triples at Northern - Monday November 2.

A signup sheet is on the board. Your entries please. Donations of groceries etc. to help with the raffle prizes will be much appreciated. Please leave in the club rooms.

Bowler – Non Bowler

Following last season’s successful Bowler /Non Bowler competition we have decided to run this again for four weeks beginning on Wednesday November 18 at 5:45pm. This is an opportunity for all of our club members to introduce a family member, workmate, neighbour etc  to the game of bowls by having them play with you in a fun competition run over 4 Wednesday evenings. Please consider who you could ask to join you, and we will be asking for entries and sign ups after Labour weekend.

Social Activities

Housie – I will be running a Housie night this coming Friday (October 23) starting at 5:00pm.

Target Bowls – this will be run on the following Friday (October 30)

Lucky Jackpot - this is drawn every Friday at 6:00pm and will also kick off this Friday. All members (financial) have a club number and if this is drawn and you are present, the jackpot is yours.

Quiz Night – yes the great Northern Quiz night returns on Friday December 4.

Teams to be a maximum of 6 people and a minimum of 4. $5 per person to enter; Lots of spot and fun prizes as well as the main prize for the winning team. Special prize for the best dressed team – fancy dress not compulsory but does add a lot of fun to the evening. Pizza will be available for dinner at 6:30pm with the Quiz to start at 7:15approx. More info to follow but now is the time to think about getting your team organised. The quiz is open to all so we encourage you to bring family, friends, neighbours or workmates or ask them to make up teams of their own. Other bowling clubs in town will be invited to enter teams – please check with your friends in the other clubs to make sure that they have heard about the quiz.

Update 8^th October  2015.

Comment on Bowls   by Denis Duffy.

Palmerston North’s Ross Ellery found the going tough in Malaysia at the international event which he has recently been competing in . Ross gained entry with his win in last season’s National Club Singles and travelled with the Women’s winner, Sandra Keith, formerly of Ashburton and now playing out of Allenton. Ross is not the first to discover the problems posed in that region by unfamiliar and very slow surfaces, intense humidity and the growing power in the game of many Asian nations. He qualified for post-section play with two hard-fought wins, only to be beaten 17-16 and eliminated by the Philippines representative. With Keith, he was also knocked out of the Mixed Pairs event in the first knockout round. The pain of Ross’s loss may be eased when he reflects that several of the wins that took him to Malaysia were also achieved by narrow margins, and that differences in player ability at international level are often very fine indeed. He will return to discover that the Palmerston North club’s selectors have again named him to play Singles in the top grade of this year’s Interclub. The rest of his team, the only one confirmed for the competition as yet, features Terry Johnson Skipping the Pair with Dean Gilshnan, and Pat Horgan Skipping a Four that includes Chris Barrett, Brian Looker and Graeme Cooley.

Both Men’s and Women’s Manawatu teams finished in the lower positions at the recent Inter-Centre Under 5 Years rep match played annually at Wanganui.  This event is played on artificial surfaces at the old Wanganui club that much more experienced players have found challenging, but of course it is often observed that the conditions are the same for all competitors.

The annual tournament  in support of the local Rescue Helicopter operation will be held at Palmerston North this Saturday, October 10th, and further entries are needed. This is an ‘Any Gender’ Triples tournament, played in mufti, and the cause is obviously a very worthy one.

Thanks Denis.

Notes from the Club Captain

Fellow Bowlers

Thanks to those of you who played in the Monaco Shield Challenge against Palmerston North on Sunday. A most enjoyable afternoon with the results not quite going our way this time. The return match is to be played in March. Congratulations to Graham Black who has been selected to play in the Men’s 8 year and under Tri Series on October 18..

Centre Mixed 2x4x2 Open Pairs

Entries for this Labour Weekend Tournament close at 5:00pm today. If you are putting in your entry at the club please make any cheques out to Northern Bowling Club and Secretary Christine will send in one payment for all entries.

Wednesday Aggregate

Remember to have your names in by 12:30pm please for these Wednesday fixtures.

Men’s Trousers and Shorts.

A minimum of 10 orders required before we can send in the order. Try on the samples in the clubrooms to determine your size.

Club Shirts

There is also a sign up for the new club shirts if you wish to order.

Up Coming Tournaments/Interclub

Please check out the notice board for a number of tournaments coming up as well as availability for Inter Club. Unfortunately last Saturday’s tournament had to be cancelled due to lack of entries. Please support the club and enter when you can.

Skog Triples and Elizabeth Walker Tuesday tournaments begin next week.

G and G McKenzie Mixed Pairs is on Sunday week, October 18.

The LJ Hooker sponsored Any Gender Open Triples is being held at Northern on Thursday October 29.

Good Bowling to you all

Doug Hayward

Club Captain