Bowls
The Centre Open Junior Pair event was completed last weekend and congratulations to Coral Todd and Wilma McGregor, of One Tree Point, and Simon Reesby and Gary Fraser, of Kensington, who took the titles.
A total of 34 teams took part, eight men's and seven women's combinations qualifying for post-section play.
Some superb bowls were played, accurate draw shots were the order of the day. Many of the players were new to the sport and their ability was outstanding.
RESULTS
Men
Round 1: R Cleaver (Mangawhai) bt A Stirling (Ngunguru); S Reesby (Kensington) bt D MacGregor (One Tree Pt); N Bint (Maungakareamea) bt W Williams (Mangawhai); R Hollingsworth (Mangawhai) bt J Rynne (Mangawhai).
Round 2: Reesby bt Cleaver, Bint bt Hollingsworth.
Final: Simon Reesby and Garry Fraser bt Noel Bint (Maungakaramea) and Maurice Taylor (Maungatapere) 16-7.
Women:
Round 1: D Owens (One Tree Pt) bye; C Todd (One Tree Pt) bt D Strawbridge (Kensington); M Christie (Kamo) bt L Littlejohn (Ngunguru); L Swanson (Onerahi) bt D Robinson (Hakaru).
Round 2: Todd bt Owens; Christie bt Swanson.
Final: Coral Todd and Wilma McGregor bt Merran Christie and Janine Thurgood 13-11.
$1000 for party
Congratulations to the One Tree Point Club, who won $1000 by hosting the best party for the Grants Corner to Corner competition in New Zealand. Must have been some party.
Great for this club to win these funds because they continue to raise money for a second green. Every cent helps, because it is difficult to get funding for such projects when not building the facility in a city environment with access to funding agencies.
Summer rolls by
The final competition for this summer season will be held at Hikurangi greens next Saturday when Northland host the Northern Region 1-5 Year Interclub finals.
Teams representing Counties-Manukau, Auckland, North Harbour, Far North & Northland will take part. Play starts at 9am.
Mangawhai Club will represent Northland and the Russell Club will be the Far North's representative.
The winter season now starts and, with artificial greens at Hikurangi, Ngunguru, Kamo, Onerahi, Maungaturoto and Dargaville having weekly tournaments, there are plenty of opportunities for bowlers to compete and keep their hand in over the next few months.
Reminders
Nominations close for Centre awards on May 15.
Clubs please remember to nominate your most successful players and don't forget to recognise your hardworking volunteers by putting their names forward.
The awards night and presentation of Centre trophies for the season will be held at the Kamo Club on May 26.
An interesting and entertaining guest speaker has been arranged. Tickets available from the office at $25 per head.
It is also time for all those Centre trophies to be returned. If you are holding on to one that you won last year, please return it to the office promptly.
The Fijian winger who had the world at his feet and the potential to surpass Jonah Lomu.