SINCE 2013 Hawke's Bay bowler Lillian Tukiri has copped a bit of flak when she has fronted at the North Island Chartered Clubs Women's Fours tournament.
"We nearly didn't make it to that Johnsonville tournament and we won't live it down," Tukiri recalled after her Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club team opened the 28th annual event with three wins during their section play at the Omarunui club yesterday.
The team's No 3 was referring to when she and No 2 Nancy Wilson missed their flight from Auckland to Wellington in 2013. They had to catch an early flight the next day and got to Johnsonville just in time to resume play but they both had to pay a $100 fine to the tournament organiser before they could take to the greens.
Despite this hiccup and nearly becoming a twosome instead of a foursome, the team won the plate section in Johnsonville.
It's a surprise Tukiri, who moved to the Bay three years ago with hubby Bill to avoid the traffic congestion and be closer to children and grandchildren, wasn't copping flak from her Bowls Taradale clubmates for playing with an "out-of-town" team at this week's four-day tournament, which will see 96 teams battle for a slice of $6400.