Around the greens

KAHUITA HIT THE GREEN RUNNING: Players gather at Kahutia’s opening day. The club had two tournaments over the weekend, 54 club members and two invited guests taking part. Picture supplied

GISBORNE

IT is said the cream always comes to the top but it was kept simmering just below the surface when Roger Dymock won the handicap singles.

Dymock took advantage of his maximum handicap of 10 in the race to 21 points, completing the day without a loss and amassing a +43-point differential.

That might be the last time the handicapper is quite so generous to the largely mid-week fifth-year bowler.

Snapping at the winner’s hees, Steve Goldsbury was also unbeaten as he grabbed an impressive +42 diff to finish second.

This was a great effort considering Goldsbury’s handicap of -1 meant he was giving almost everyone in the field a start.

New member John Kanawa, also on -1, was third with a points differential of +8.

The club’s next open event, the Doug Neilson Triples, is scheduled for September 26. Entry sheets are up at the three city clubs and will be taken until 4pm the day before the tournament.

The club is taking advantage of a rare free Saturday in the crammed bowling calendar to trial Bowls New Zealand’s new initiative Bowls3Five on September 29.

The new format is a slightly altered version of Australia’s Bowls Premier League, which is essentially pairs played by three bowlers. The format for Bowls3Five is two-bowl triples played over two sets with one power play.

An entry sheet is up at the clubhouse. Three games will be played in the afternoon, starting at 12.30pm.

Bowls NZ’s new national Bowls3Five competition will be televised for six weeks from October 23.

The first club championship of the season is the mixed pairs on October 6 and 7. Entries are open for this popular event.

KAHUTIAKahutia’s opening weekend attracted 54 club members and two invited guests for the Ryman Kiri Te Kanawa Retirement Village sponsored tournament on Saturday and Stonehaven Memorial tournament on Sunday.

Gisborne East Coast centre’s new president Mark Bain sent down the first bowl.

Three one-hour games were played on Saturday, with the honours going to Don Oates (lead), Frank McLaughlin (2), Lesley Seymour (3) and Mick Maunder (skip).

The Sawyer Rose Bowl, sponsored by Graeme and Chris Gedye, was up for grabs on Sunday.

Teams were graded, which meant it was an opportunity for newer members to play with the more experienced players.

Ten teams took the greens and there were some surprise results.

Steve Goldsbury’s team had a tough day, their only win coming in the last round.

John Kanawa, new to the centre, also had a day to forget, however, his last round loss did make an interesting conclusion to the tournament.

Marie Wright, president Ron Davie, Lester Wright and Diane Tamanui finished the day unbeaten as did Jamey Ferris, new bowler Ricky Miller, Mike Donnelly and Ashley Ferris.

With both teams locked on a +28 differential the convener had to go back on points to find a winner.

Ferris got home with 55 to Wright’s 52.

Pictured is the turnout for opening day and the winners of the Stonehaven Cup with the Sawyer Rose cup are from left; Ashley Ferris, Ricky Miller, Jamey Ferris, representative for Stone-Haven Jenny Bright and Mike Donnelly.