Personal challenge of player and bowl a stimulating mix,Personal challenge of player and bowl a stimulating mix

Jeff Davis takes aim. Picture by Paul Rickard

Jeff Davis has been playing bowls for 11 years, having had his appetite whetted by his Mitre 10 team “Jeff, Joy and Cally”, who competed in mercantile bowls at the Poverty Bay club.

He and wife Joy (who started club bowls two years after Jeff, having seen how much he enjoyed it) are members of the Poverty Bay club.

“I’d been involved in rugby, surf lifesaving . . . it was always team events,” Jeff said.

“I found with bowls it was me and the bowl, competing against other people. Sure, we have team events, but if you deliver your bowl well you have completed your job, and if your bowl gets taken off the head, so be it. For me, it’s the personal challenge.

“We’ll bowl from 8.30am through to 6pm. We’ll feel tired but really good about it.”

Jeff said bowlers could be divided roughly into three groups:

- The social bowlers who rocked up on Tuesday, Thursday and or Saturday, had two games, then a drink and a chat with their mates, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

- Social bowlers who were a little more competitive and took part in club competitions.

- Bowlers who enjoyed competition and sought out tournaments where they would compete against better players. He and Joy belonged to this group.

“We also go to Australia and play bowls there,” Jeff said.

“You meet a lot more people with bowls than you would with golf. For the past two years we’ve played in June/July tournaments at the Maroochydore Beach Bowls Club on the Sunshine Coast. Lots of Kiwis take part, and they have good-quality bowlers.”

Jeff, 71, has been retired 10 years. As a youngster he was a rugby winger, then a forward, and played for Old Boys at under-21 level. In surf lifesaving, he competed in six-man rescue and resuscitation competition for the Waikanae club. He left Gisborne when he was 19 and returned “about 40 years ago”.

He and Joy were in the Gisborne Mitre 10 store for 26 years before they retired.

“A lot of people, when they retire, don’t have a personal challenge,” Jeff said.

“Bowls give you a challenge, but it’s also a great way to meet people, get out in the open air and keep stimulated.”