Around the Greens

The winners of Gisborne’s club-only triples were (from left) Carol Hawes (skip), Ted Mehrtens and Veronica Gribble. Picture supplied

GisborneWHAT a difference a day makes. Gisborne’s bowlers said an emphatic “yes” to Saturday afternoon play when they turned out in numbers to the weekend’s club-only triples tournament.

It was the biggest turnout this season and a showing usually reserved for open tournaments, when the numbers are boosted by players from the other city clubs.

The message was clear. “We like half-day events and we want bowls on Saturday.”

Six full rinks — it was a warming sight for the Hawes show. Carol Hawes (skip), Ted Mehrtens and Veronica Gribble were the runaway winners, with two wins and a points differential of plus 16.

Keeping it in the family, Arthur Hawes skipped the runners-up, who also had two wins but a points differential of plus 10. Back-up was provided by director Bruce Gledhill and lead Adrienne Torrie.

In all, three teams were unbeaten. With a points differential of plus seven, Gus McCabe (skip), Ginny Sherriff and Jim Wilson were third.

Farmers Air was the sponsor.

Women’s pro pairs

ENTRIES are open for next month’s Bronwyn Kay Women’s Pro Pairs and already several out-of-town entries from some big-name players have been accepted.

Last year’s inaugural event was a big success and the mixed pairs format was popular. Word has clearly got around, and the visiting bowlers — so far from Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay — will provide a good yardstick against which local bowlers will be able to measure themselves.

Local bowlers are urged to get their entries in soon for the $2000 tournament because indications are that this year the event will be bigger and brighter than the last.

On the same weekend, Kahutia Bowling Club will stage its men’s pro pairs, making it a good opportunity for husbands and wives to travel together and enjoy a weekend of top bowling, albeit at different venues.

Poverty BayThe club’s mixed handicap singles last weekend drew 22 entrants.

To accommodate all the games, they were split into groups for each day to play four games of section play aiming at 21 shots with a time limit of 90 minutes.

The handicapping is intended to balance the skills and experience of all players and encourage newer bowlers competing against those of higher gradings.

This was achieved, as some relatively new members beat some skips, which showed the value of coaching.

Over the two days, only three competitors were unbeaten, thereby accruing 12 game points. Of these, Jeff Davis had the greatest differential, plus 37, to win the men’s title.

He was followed by Luke Sanders, a 16-year-old rising star and future centre junior representative, with his +34.

Marion Jones, too, gained the full 12 points, with a differential of +31, to win the women’s group.

Norma Miller was runner-up with nine points and a creditable +36 differential.

Sanders is very consistent with the smooth delivery of his draw bowls. Miller, too, built her differential with two very good wins against skips. Both players are keen to learn and with further experience will have great potential in the sport.

Many will have gained knowledge and confidence in level competition with better players. Shot selection, measuring and even etiquette can be learned by all over these two days for the benefit of the club as a whole.

Coming upMarch 16: RSA (women’s section) open mixed.

March 24 and 25: club mixed triples championship.

March 31 and April 1: Easter triples tournament.