Around the greens: Club bowls news

Smiles at Poverty Bay: Winners of Poverty Bay Bowling Club’s closing day tournament were (from left) Richard Jones, Jon Davies and Otto Louw. They were pictured with tournament controller Jeff Davis.Picture by Norma Miller

An entry of 48 bowlers took to the greens at the Gisborne Bowling Club on Saturday to mark the end of the official bowling season, with three games of triples played in perfect conditions.

With only one-and-a-half greens available, there was plenty of close competition.

The Gisborne No.1 green is being renovated and should be operational next season.

Generous sponsorship from Farmlands rewarded the eventual winners, with each team playing three games.

No team managed to win all their games and the three winning teams finished with two wins and a draw each.

Lesley McIntosh and Janet Willson helped Steve Goldsbury into first place with two wins and a +18.

Hona Huriwai came second with Barbara Gibson and Peter Clay and a +17, and two handy female bowlers.

Carol Hawes skipped her team of Reg Hart and George Stanley to two wins and a draw, and a +15 for third place.

Following the action, president Tim Sherriff read out the list of winners for the season and thanked all those who have helped install the new green. This is a mammoth job for club members and they have willingly answered the call for help.

The Poverty Bay Bowling Club completed a successful centenary year with a well-attended closing day tournament followed by prize-giving.

The closing day triples tournament was sponsored by Property Brokers and followed the tradition of women challenging the men for a shield. The seven men's teams defeated the women by 70 ends to 69, but, as the women pointed out, to even up numbers four women played in men's teams! As there were 44 players, two teams had four players.

Three games of one hour, with a twist, were played. In the first game all bowls in front of the jack were removed. In the second, the jack was placed behind the two-metre mark and to one side, and in the third game skips and leads exchanged positions. Two points were given for a win and one for a draw. The winning team, Jon Davies, Otto Louw and Richard Jones, had three wins. Two teams had two wins and a draw getting five points. Marion Jones, Bruce Gledhill, Colin Evans and Larry Kaloukava won 12 ends, hence they were second. Third place went to Erin Sutherland, Cheryl Jenkins and Diane Doyle who won 11 ends.

Following afternoon tea the annual prize-giving was held and club president Jon Davies awarded trophies, bars and certificates. Awards were organised by the championship controllers, Jan Powell and Erin Sutherland. The Ian Niven Cup for the most improved first-year woman went to Jean Patterson and the Wattie Pettit Memorial Cup for the most improved junior man went to Dusty Miller.

The club has one more tournament at the Queen's birthday weekend, sponsored by Eric Craill, and will continue with winter roll-ups on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons. All bowlers are welcome to join them for these events.