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!

Update 25^th Mar 2013.

Northern’s women’s team wins the Division 2 Interclub Title.

Congratulations to Julianne Mills, Carol Davidson, Lynlea Rogers, Sue Meyer, Jacinta Cousins, Julie Palmer, Christina Bryan, Pat Baker (Manager) and Noeleen Elston (Coach).

You can see the full results  here http://www.bowlsnz.co.nz/events/bowls-nz-national-interclub-championships/interclub-results/

Well done!

This weekend. Starting on Friday.

NORTHERN Bowling Club

SILVESTER/CLARK

2013 EASTER TRIPLES   

Well worth coming down to the Club to see some top bowlers in action.