A full field of 16 teams contested the first day’s play of the revamped Burton Cup tournament at the Gisborne Bowling Club greens.
Competition continues tomorrow in what is now known as the Burton Cup Classic Fours.
Two teams from Kawerau and a guest player from Thames Valley are playing,and teams from Hawke’s Bay had to be turned away because the field was full.
In the classic fours format, teams play singles, pairs, triples and fours in an all-round test of a team of four players.
“We will never see 80-plus teams contest the event as we once did, but the classic format ensures that the test is worthy of the prestige that the Burton Cup tournament has always had,” said Beverly Davy, tournament controller and club captain.
“It has always been the most sought-after trophy in the sport in this district, and the Gisborne Bowling Club intends to keep it that way.”
The Burton Cup was shelved in 2017 because not enough teams were entering to make it worth running. First contested in 1910, the Burton Cup was the district’s premier bowls event for over 100 years. Tomorrow, play resumes at 9am, and the winners will be known once points are tallied about 4.30pm.Pictures by Paul Rickard
