Bowls: Glory for host club team

JUBILANT CHAMPS: Barbara Exeter, Sheryl Glock, Louise Fitness (skip), Jan Henderson and Jo Hayes won the North Island Chartered Clubs Women's Fours bowls title yesterday. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

IN his role as an international umpire, Hawke's Bay bowler Peter Turnbull has seen some classy shots.

"Several of the ones I saw Louise play today were just as good as ones I've seen played at world championship level," Turnbull said referring to Bowls Taradale's Louise Fitness who skipped the winning team in the 96-team, four-day 28th annual North Island Chartered Clubs Women's Fours tournament which ended at her club yesterday.

Fitness and her team of Barbara Exeter (three), Jo Hayes (two) and lead Jan Henderson beat a Tauranga Citizens Club team skipped by Jenny Willis 14-9 in the final. They had earlier beaten a team from Whanganui's St John's Club to secure their final berth.

"I can't remember the score. It was a close must-win game in which I had to play some phenomenal shots. It was really exciting and enjoyable. You make the most of these days because you lose more games than you win," Fitness said after being smothered in congratulatory hugs by clubmates.

The fact her lead for the first three days of the tournament, Sheryl Glock, was unavailable yesterday and had to be replaced by Henderson added to the significance of the title success.

"We're fortunate to have plenty of depth in our club and Jan played well today. But she was a replacement and Sheryl will come with us next year when we attempt to go back-to-back. Although if we do it will be a miracle ... this is such a tough tournament," Fitness said.

A Hawke's Bay rep who is in her 10th year of bowling, Fitness, rated yesterday's success as "almost as good" as the national pairs title she and Hayes secured in Hamilton in April. They beat Carolyn Crawford and Sharon McCaw of the St Clair club in Dunedin 20-9 in their final.

With their title win yesterday Fitness and co became the first Taradale Club team to win the tournament. It was only their second time in the event which had $6400 in prizemoney.

"Last year in Mount Maunganui we made the top 16 then missed out after that," Fitness recalled.

All five members of the winning team intend to have a celebration dinner with family and supporters in the near future.

"It won't be tonight. We're absolutely exhausted," Fitness added.

In the plate final, Wendy Green's Taupo Cosmopolitan Club team pipped Nelly Yep's Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club quartet 17-16 and in the consolation final Norma Gallagher's Mount Maunganui team beat Adrienne Tilyard's Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club quartet 19-6.

Turnbull, who has played at Bowls Taradale for six years after moving from Wellington, was the tournament organiser. He umpired at the 2014 World Singles in Christchurch and at the Asia Pacific Championships in Christchurch last year.

"This has been a terrific week. To have a host club team win the major title in front of a huge crowd just added to the atmosphere," Turnbull said.

In addition to Bowls Taradale greens at the Bowls Omarunui, Kia Toa and Havelock North clubs were also used for the tournament.