100-year-old's great eye for winning bowl

Tom Piercy turns 100 today and still bowls every week at his Tauranga South club. Photo / John Borren

There are few bowlers anywhere still turning up for a roll-up aged 100.

But Tom Piercy looks forward to his weekly battle of wits on the green where his skills are still sharp.

The hugely popular member of the Tauranga South Bowling Club turns 100 today

That is the day he allocates for bowls. He would play more but it would interfere with the time he could spend with his wife, Sylvia, who is cared for at Bethlehem Views. The couple celebrated 74 years of marriage this month.

Bowls has been Piercy's main exercise in recent years after a few nasty accidents put him off riding his bike. Mind you, he only stopped that three years ago, aged 97.

"I got knocked off my bike three times and decided I was not going to give them a fourth chance," he said with a chuckle.

Bowls has been a part of Piercy's life for more than 25 years. He began playing after he and Sylvia shifted to Tauranga from Pakuranga, firstly at the Matua club and then at Tauranga South.

"When we came to Tauranga from Pakuranga my wife was a keen gardener and she went to a gardening club. A friend of hers asked her there why doesn't she play bowls, so she said 'All right then'," he said.

"So she went to the club and I went and watched her play. One of the ladies said 'Why don't you have a go Tom' so I did."

The thing he loves most about bowls is that everyone can play it.

"I think it is the only sport in the world where male and female, old and young, play on equal terms. There is no distinction. You either support each other or you are against each other on the green.

"The social side is a wonderful thing because you meet so many friends. Wherever you go as a bowler you are welcome at a club. I don't travel now but I used to. I went to Australia and found I could make friends there in no time at all."

Tauranga South men's club captain Leo Sinden says Tom Piercy is an amazing fellow.

"He turns up once a week every Friday and plays very, very good bowls and he is a great club man.

"The members think he is amazing. The club is going to put on a special luncheon for him early in the new year to celebrate his 100th birthday along with his family members."

Tauranga South member Shirley Cross has had a lot to do with Piercy over recent years. She admires his independence and competitive spirit.

"I don't have to bring him to bowls any more because he has a motorised wheelchair. He is just a thorough gentleman, he really is. The members really admire him," she said.

"You should have seen him bowling last week. He was fantastic."

As the Bay of Plenty Times was leaving the Tauranga South greens there was a loud cheer. Piercy had just drawn a beautifully weighted bowl to take the end.

Even at 100 he still has a great eye for a winning bowl.