WINSOME FOURSOME: Harry Wihongi, Peter Doreen with John and Wog Wintle won a major men's fours title at Houhora earlier this year.
WINSOME FOURSOME: Harry Wihongi, Peter Doreen with John and Wog Wintle won a major men's fours title at Houhora earlier this year.
The Houhora Bowling Club wrapped up its 2014/15 season recently and provided a round-up of results from the last few events of the summer calendar which had been completed in the final months.
The round-up began with a well belated report from the 25th running of the Cowley's Hire CentreMen's Fours played in moderate summer conditions on Waitangi Day. Houhora bowling commentator Kyra Rapana described this year's event as a knockout success - in featuring 20 teams from all over the north taking part - which exceeded the sum of its parts thanks to the input from all involved.
"A very special thank you to the sponsors for their generosity, and also the local business who, without any hesitation, once again lent us some significant support. Thank you to the greenkeepers, we couldn't have these tournaments without your hard work and dedication. To all the bowlers from near and far, thank you all for your support."
The day's overall winners were Harry Wihongi, Peter Dorreen and John and Wog Wintle 4.5 wins, 33 ends, 58 points, 1; Cedric Campbell, Zane and Dwayne Beckett and Mike Reddy 4.5, 27, 41, 2; Tupu Campbell, Dennis Wishnowsky, Chris Topia and A Bob 4, 27, 49, 3.
The club also completed its 2014/15 domestic championships and the results showed - like any small sporting organisation - that, in many cases, a rival in one case would often be a teammate in another. Champions and runners-up in the various divisions were as follows.
Singles, 1st year: Bernie Kapa 1; J5, men: Dennis Lattimer 1, John Rapana 2, ladies: Kyra Rapana 1, Joanne Milich 2; open, men: Joe Hovell 1, Roger Leef 2, ladies: Elizabeth Mansill 1, Mary Ashby 2. Pairs, ladies: K Rapana and J Milich 1, Marjorie Milich and Cynthia Shailes 2, men: Russell Hockley and D Latimer 1, John Gleeson and Tony Mirando 2. The passing of the open men's champion, Joe Hovell, was also mentioned: "You are sadly missed, Joe." Other domestic results included from the men's fours: Jo Gleeson, D Lattimer, Douglas Mansill and Ash Mitchell 1, Mike Housham, R Leef, Dolly Doleman and T Mirando 2; and, from the HBC's 2015 twilight series, singles: John Rapana beat wife Kyra ("just!" apparently), and, mixed pairs: M Ashby and R Leef 1, J and K Rapana 2.
A report on the Hoana Hockley Memorial tournament, held in conjunction with the HBC's closing day, is forthcoming.
