Pairs event honours a special bloke

Alan Bell (middle) presents Clayton Jones and Mate Radich with the Kerry Manson Memorial trophy last Thursday.

A large turnout from the Far North Indoor Bowling Association reconvened at the Kaitaia Primary School hall to compete for the Kerry Manson Memorial last Thursday.

Local commentator Stephen Joyce said the event was a tribute to a popular figure in the indoor bowling scene who worked on the farm at Bell's Produce, the event sponsors.

"Every year since his death a lot of Bell's workers now play in this tournament as a sign of respect and, as a result, several have now joined the Kaitaia club and bowl regularly," he said.

Event sponsor Alan Bell came along for a bowl on the night with Eddie McCarthy unselfishly putting himself up as skip for his inexperienced lead.

"Good on ya, Eddie, and good on ya, Alan, for giving it your best shot!" Final results were Clayton Jones and Mate Radich 5 wins, 1; Dot Craig and Helen Fisher 4½, 2, while the raffle of a veggie box was won by Louise Mason.

"My old mate, Mate, clearly learning from me last week jumped ship and bowled with Mangonui skip, Clayton Jones, and wouldn't you know it, they won! Mate was evidently quite proud of this and was quick to mention that he had carried Clayton most of the evening! Ahem.

Mate for mayor!" On behalf of the FNIBA, Joyce gave thanks to the sponsor for the ongoing support.

In other news, another memorial tournament took place in the Far North over the weekend, the Jenny Cross open pairs in Kerikeri.

No one from the Far North featured in the top three places but Peter Sole was in one of the five teams tying for third place with four wins but lost on countback, beaten ironically, by another Far North team of Eddie McCarthy and Louise Mason.

"During the tournament a very unusual occurrence happened to a lady who wishes to remain anonymous; in the middle of a game she bowled the first bowl without the kitty being bowled first!

But wait, there is more: it was the wrong colour bowl anyway. Hence her wish to remain anonymous. But I know who you are," Joyce concluded with his usual tact.

1st place winners; Clayton Jones, sponsor Alan Bell, Mate Radich.