Chisholm Optional Senior-Junior Pairs tourney recalls player’s contribution

Personal touch: Willie Murray holds the trophy comprising a set of Michael Chisholm’s bowls mounted on a base. At second left and right are Fay Chisholm and daughter Teresa with winning Section 1 skip July Hoepo-Williams. Picture supplied

Bowls Gisborne-East Coast’s Chisholm Optional Senior-Junior Pairs tournament recalls Michael Chisholm’s contribution.

A bowler, coach and umpire, Michael Chisholm (1940-2020) encouraged senior players to take juniors as teammates to foster the development of those new to the game.

The Chisholm Optional Senior-Junior Pairs provides a tournament where juniors — players with up to eight years of bowls experience — play alongside seniors to learn from their experience.

This was the tournament’s second year, and 32 teams took part. Play was held at Poverty Bay Bowling Club.

Three wooden bowls owned by Michael Chisholm have been mounted on a wooden base as a trophy.

Players were divided into two 16-team sections. Each team played three games of 90 minutes or 12 ends on the Saturday. The top 16 teams played four games at Poverty Bay on the Sunday while the other 16 teams played three games at Gisborne.

Section 1 winners were July Hoepo-Williams (skip) and Willie Murray. Runners-up were Glenys Whiteman (s) and Ray Young. Third were Steve Berezowski (s) and Peter Ferris. Fourth were Dianne Phillips (s) and Ginny Sherriff.

Charlie Ure (s) and Diane Oates won Section 2. Runners-up were George Tamihana (s) and Bruce Gledhill. Joe Wimutu (s) and his grandaughter, Kyra Wimutu, were third.

Fay Chisholm and daughter Teresa presented the trophy and prizes to the winners on the Sunday, which would have been Michael’s 82nd birthday.