Update 16^th September  2013.

Saturday was the opening of the 2013 – 2014 season.

After a welcome and the rolling up of the first bowl of the season by our club Patron, Noeleen, play commenced for the Herbert plate.

This Progressive Tournament has been weather affected more than most in the last couple of seasons so it was sort of a surprise, given the forecast, that we were able to play for the plate in what was pretty good weather on green 2 which to me, appeared to run nicely for the first use of the season. The winner of the Herbert Plate was Doug Hayward our Club Captain. Well done Doug.

With all the smart phones and camera’s around these days, if you are at a tournament or a game, the likelihood is that you may see an opportunity to take a candid picture that is worth sharing with others in the club. Please take it and put it up on our Facebook page or if you prefer, send it to me and I will put it in the Blog or on Facebook for you. You can send it to my email address or to my mobile phone. The number is in the Club Program booklet.

Bowling On, 16^th September.

Bowling Clubs knew the season was upon us at the weekend when many celebrated opening to the accompaniment of the usual biting breeze that only the Manawatu can produce.

It will be a busy season at Centre level with Open tournaments restored although champion of champion events will still be the pathway to regional and National finals. Many of our competitive bowlers felt short changed with the absence of Open events last season so hopefully they will provide enough entries to justify the restoration of these tournaments.

Whether running a Centre Open Singles in mid October is wise planning is another thing. We usually strike our worst weather then, greens have not reached their best and players are likely to be short on match play. Playing the Blue riband event so early may be folly.

Another major change this season sees Manawatu joining Wanganui for a combined premiere interclub of four teams each. Something had to be done at that level and I welcome the initiative. In the women's competition there had only been three teams for several years and the men only fronted with four clubs. Johnston Park has stepped up to be the fourth women's team although there is a possibility they may yet have to combine with another Club to select  a competitive seven players.

Whether women will enjoy the elongated competition and travel commitment as much as the men I am guarded on. It was only two years ago there were howls of protest from some over extending the competition to two days.

• There are usually many rumours about player movements during the off season and among those I have heard but not substantiated are;

- Manawatu singles exponent Ross Ellery is taking a total break from the game to concentrate on family.

- Sharon Sims is having a break from bowls altogether and I note she has no administration roles in the Centre or her Northern Club.

- Feona Sayles now has involvement with Bowls NZ and will not be playing as often

- One I'm delighted to confirm is that current Manawatu singles champion Stephen Love has joined Johnston Park. Stephen was very competitive at the Professional Bowlers Association singles in Invercargill recently until a wonky knee forced him to withdraw from the semi-final and forfeit the chance of a trip to England.

- Craig Gush is heading to Fiji with his job. With his ability don't be surprised to see him bob up playing bowls for the country at Commonwealth games or the like. There's a challenge for you Craig.

- Promising women's bowler Tania MacKay is back after a year's absence playing at Johnston Park.

- Current Manawatu singles champion Lyn Jensen won't get in much play at all this season as she abandons her husband and concentrates on her other role of Inner Wheel NZ President.

• Bowls and in particular the Hokowhitu Club lost a gem of a man with the recent  passing of Don McPhee. Don had been Club President, greenkeeper and I will remember him best for his coaching. I often turned up to play at Hokowhitu to find Don tutoring a group of newer bowlers. Don always took the initiative to involve those bowlers. He was no mean bowler himself and was good enough to earn a Centre title leading for Scruff Gordon's four in the champion of champions in the 2001-02 season. I lead against him in that final and we had a torrid scrap. As an aside Scruff's performance at skip that day rank's as one of the finest I've seen.

Don had many and varied interests, a piper, clansman and Rugby refereeing and never lacked an opinion on sport. He will be missed.

• I won't be on the greens much myself before Christmas. I recently had a hiatus hernia repaired which will keep me quiet for awhile and I will then be having a knee tidied up.

 To make this column relevant I need support from Clubs so please email news to tony.jensen@aon.com or txt me on 021491808 as a passing comment if you see me at a club will likely get lost.

I was disappointed last season when I asked for all Division One interclub teams so I could do a preview and received only one. So as soon as you select let me know. Good bowling.

TONY JENSEN

Thanks Tony

Update 14^th May 2013.

Saturday was the return match with Takaro for the TeRaki cup. On Takaro's home turf, the carpet this time, Northern once again comprehensively won the challenge. This cup has been played for a on a regular basis now for the last 80 years. Takaro as usual were the perfect hosts putting on a very nice lunch and afternoon tea. Thanks Takaro.  We look forward to once again defending the TeRaki cup in the 2013 – 2014 season.

Sunday was the official closing day for our club.  In absolutely fantastic weather, the Herbert Plate was up for grabs in the final games of the season. Tom Palmer was the eventual winner.

Being a progressive tournament it is not often that a Skip wins this trophy. Well done Tom.

At the end of play the prize giving ceremony was held with the trophies for the year being presented by our Patron Bevin.

After which the Centre Certificates and awards were presented by our Manawatu  Centre Executive guest for the day, Woody (Tony Woodley).

After the presentations there was a pot luck tea and very nice it was too.

Once again, great weather, good company and well catered. What more could you ask?

Don’t forget, the AGM is 10am Sunday the 16^th of June. See you there!

Have a great winter!

Here is a couple of photo taken on Sunday.

I can’t take the credit for all of these as Sue, Bill, John and co all had a go.
(Click on the image to make it larger.)

Apart from Anne, who else can you see?

That's got to be Bill! Who else?

Anne again with Murray and Joan

That looks like Elaine getting ready to deliver.

Gee, Anne again with Tom, Bob, Doug, Max, Lindsay and Bevin.

Sue and Margaret being presented with the Gwen Mckenzie Cup.

Sue and Margaret with the Gwen Mckenzie Cup.

Lindsay was presented with the Frank Fee Trophy. He is with Noel who is a previous winner of this prestigious award.

Winners of the Division 2 Inter-club Title receive their Certificates.

Winners of the Division 2 Inter-club Title receive their Certificates. 

Winners of the Division 2 Inter-club Title receive their Certificates.

Bruce Harris with his trophy the John Smith Trophy for best overall performance in the Men's Club Championships.

Feona was the recipient of the equivalent Ladies award, the trophy Donated by Sue Way.

Congratulations to everyone.

Update 7^th May 2013.

It was a very successful day for the club on Sunday in our annual battle with Paraparaumu.

As you probably have heard, Northern once again comprehensively won the challenge.

Great weather, good company and well catered. What more could you ask?

Well done to all involved. Players, Markers, Catering, Bar Staff and our hard working Green Keeper.

Here are a couple of pictures of the occasion.  

Don’t forget the last day for play this year will be on Sunday the 12^th which is Closing day.

The AGM is 10am Sunday the 16^th of June.  See you there!

Have a great winter!

Update 3^rd April 2013.

Bowling On

April usually sees champion of champion events each week but with these events having been run off earlier there is little else other than club open tournaments for the rest of the season.

The exception is the Centre Open pairs to be played from 13-15 April but I gather there are not a large number of entries. With club news non existent or not being passed on I am making this my final column for the season. I am not going to trundle through an almanack of the season but will share a few highlights as I saw it or personally enjoyed.

• First in the order of highlights was the sight of two Northern women Anna Davis and Mere Freyer contesting semi-finals of the National singles at Paritutu in New Plymouth. Both contested admirably and an ounce of luck here and a slide there could have seen them both in the final.

• Not far behind were the efforts of Palmerston North and Northern in winning the National Second Division Interclub for men and women respectively. The second Division is far more strongly contested than first division as many clubs see themselves as only cannon fodder in the higher echelon. Palmerston North is arguably the oldest team to win a National title with Trevor Butcher, Colin Cherri, Rex Stokes, Brian Grammer and John Pene all long serving members of the National Superannuation club and Paul Rowe starting to knock on the door. The only relative youngster is singles player Dean Gilshnan who marked his coming of age as an outdoor bowler winning his five matches. John Pene at 81 would be right up there amongst the oldest to win a national title.

• The performance of Manawatu's mens team in finishing second at the national intercentre was very meritorious and they were but one shot from possible victory. They proved to themselves that Auckland greens need hold no fears for them.

• Two champion of champion victories that gave me delight were the tiny Shannon club's Women's triple and of course Lyn Jensen of Johnston Park (and the other half of my bed) in the singles.

• With the absence of centre open events I found myself playing a lot more open tournaments. The more I play the more I enjoy them and the one that gave me particular delight was my first foray into Palmerston North's Golden Oldies.

So those are some season highlights as I saw them.

Easter saw Northern's very popular three day triples held and it proved to be yet another highly organised and hotly contested event. It is a very good format with 20 of the 32 teams taking home prizemoney. In the top division final Terry Curtis skipped the two Rossiters Terry and Liz to victory over Neil Gordon, Brian Henn and Lynlea Rogers. "Scruff" Gordon showed his legendary toughness by dragging his team out of a 13-3 grave to get back to 15-16 only for Curtis to kill the end after the final bell.

One of the real features was the number of local bowlers who took the opportunity to play a tournament with players from other clubs and there were at least a dozen such combinations. Mike Hodge from Terrace End had his parents from Whangarei join him for the tournament which must be pretty special for those involved.

And my bowler of the season? A deadheat between Reg Webb from Te Kawau and Dennis Richards from Masterton. It's not for their on green performances but the phenomenal way they support the game by entering tournaments. I see more of Dennis than most of my clubmates and Reg's name seem to be in every tournament. Those types are the real ones who keep the game healthy.

TONY JENSEN

Thanks Tony. Enjoy your winter break!

Here are a couple of candid shots taken during our Easter Tournament.

Click on them to view a larger version.

Bill has a long hard look! Ray concentrates on his delivery!

Interested spectators!

Scruff and Terry in the Final

Ray looking out over his old stomping ground!

More of the tournament spectators!