Gwen Lawson: Northland bowls column, award nominations welcome

Bill Starkie (left) and Anne Lison keep the teams informed at the Onerahi green. Photo / File

This weekend is the culmination of representative play for the centre when our men's and women's teams compete at the Howick greens in Auckland today in the New Zealand inter-centre competition.

Northland will be represented by:

Men - Singles: Dennis Brewster; Pair: Kevin Robinson, Dean McMurchy; Four: Trevor Reader, Sam Nelson, Paul Wightman, Alistair Trimmer.

Women - Singles: Sue Wightman, Pair: Ann Muir, Leanne Stewart; Four: Maree Attwood, Anne Bateman, Maureen Parker, Carol Neeley. Reserve: Dawn Owens.

Both teams qualified in this event last year, with the women finishing in
second place. Good bowling to them all.

The Bowls3Five Regional final between Kensington Parahaki Dare Devils and Riverhead (North Harbour) will be played next Thursday, March 28, at 6pm at Warkworth Bowling Club.

The winner of this event will then play the winner of the Auckland/Counties Manukau competition with a place at the New Zealand final, to be played on April 28, at stake.

Bowls New Zealand have announced the venues and dates for the NZ Champion of Champion events.

They will be played - singles at Naenae, Wellington from July 5-7; Pairs at Dunedin July 12-14, men's fours at Hastings July 26-28 and women's fours at Hamilton July 19-21.

The winners of the Northland Champion of Champion events will be eligible to play in the New Zealand events.

Bowls New Zealand have also announced the venues for the 2020 Summerset Villages National tournaments.

The single and pairs will be played in Christchurch from January 2-8, 2020, and the fours will be in the Bay of Plenty from February 27 to March 2, 2020.

The national inter-centre will be played in Wellington from March 19-22, 2020.

Closer to home, the Northland centre president's day is scheduled to be played next Wednesday, March 27, at Bowls Whangārei.

Sixteen teams have entered to date. Please check the centre website for entry names. Play starts at 9.30am. Entries will be accepted up until Monday 5pm.

Reminder: The Northland Secondary Schools any combination pairs tournament will be played at the Kamo greens on Friday, April 5.

Entries are being accepted via your school by Sport Northland. Entry fee $10 per player.

Nomination forms for the annual centre awards have been sent to all clubs. Nominations maybe made by clubs or individuals.

Awards are presented at the centre prizegiving at the Kamo Club on Saturday, May 25.

Nominations should be forwarded for Player of the Year (men and women); Young Player of the Year; Coach of the Year, Greenkeeper of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Service to Bowls, and nominations close on April 5.

Club Open tournaments for next week are: 23rd - Ruawai AC Triples; 24th - Dargaville AC Triples; 25th - Ngunguru AC Triples; 26th - Waipu men's Triples; & Kamo AC Triples; 27th - Centre President's Tournament AC Fours; 28th - One Tree Pt AC 1-5 year Triples; 30th & 31st - Hikurangi men's Triples.