The Centre Championship Triples were completed last weekend in very trying conditions, jacks, bowls and players were buffeted by extremely strong winds and heavy passing showers. Fifty teams entered the competition and there were 9 qualifiers in the men's section and 7 qualifiers in the women's section.
In the men round one saw Trevor Johnston beat Paul Freeman 23-9. In round two Sam Nelson beat Adam Booth 16-13; John Dunn beat Kevin Robinson 16-15; Trevor Reader beat Peter Nicholas 17-15 and Johnston beat Gordon Bond 17-14.]
The semifinals saw Nelson beat Dunn 22-17 and Johnston beat Reader 22-8. In the final Johnston, Mike Butler and Kevin Sidwell (Maungatapere) won 19-9 over Nelson, Steve Mitchell and Don Cameron (Hikurangi).
Steady lead bowls from Kevin Sidwell and accurate play from Mike Butler were the background to the teams success. This was Centre title six for Johnston, 15 for Butler (a second bar to his gold star) and third for Sidwell.
In the women's section, round one saw Sally Stirling with the bye, Sue Wightman beat Caroline Downs 16-9; Ann Muir beat Diane Lawrence 16-15; Lynn Hunt beat Maureen Parker 17-14. Round two Wightman beat Sally Stirling 20-13; Hunt beat Muir 18-11.
The final between Lynn Hunt, Gwen Lawson and Savanna Lauder (Hikurangi) and Sue Wightman, June Wilson and Marion Pilmer (Mangawhai Women's) went to the wire with the lead in the match changing back and forth between the teams and they went into the final end with the scores tied on 14 all.
Hikurangi were holding two shots and Wightman needed to put the jack in the ditch and sit beside it to win the match. Her drive was slightly wide and the win went to Hikurangi.
This was Centre title seven for Hunt, 13 for Lawson and a first for Lauder who also won the first year singles tournament last season.
Umpires Corner
That hardy annual has reared its ugly head and it has come to the Centre's attention that players are not conforming to the rules when competing in Centre fixtures. Please ensure that you wear the correct bowling attire, correct footwear (no sports shoes), no smoking or cell phones on the green. Please check out your red hand book, all the standard regulations are listed for your attention.
The same thing applies to the laws when you are playing the game, these all apply. If you were all playing another sport I am sure that you would play by the rules, so please do the same when you are playing this game.
Reminder
The Junior pairs entries are slow in coming to hand and you are reminded that entries close on October 26.
Champs time
Club championships are being held by many clubs this weekend, may we wish you all good bowling and hopefully some fine weather to make us feel as though summer is finally coming to the north.