BOWLS
The Kaitaia Church Road Bowling Club was blessed with beautiful mid winter conditions which helped attract large fields to two recent events in the club's off season programme.
The first was the Liz Searly Cup sponsored by Des and Davina Reed, played on Saturday, June 8. A report from this open mixed triples event noted 17 teams eventually turned out meaning some of the "lucky ones" got a bye.
The eventual winners were "regular visitors from Cooper's Beach", Janice Allen, Pat Rayner and Len Cooke, the only four winners on the day; followed by Stef Hildreth, Mike Reddy and Connie Pene (Kaitaia Combined) in runners up spot with three wins; while Cedric Campbell, Teri Stout and Paul Burren came third, Paul saying he had "carried" the team all day ... [while] Teri and Paul as second and first year bowlers really gave the veteran bowlers a hard time."
During the event's beautiful afternoon tea and prizegiving, the lucky draw - available to anyone who had played on the day and who had remained up to the event's finale - was won by the host club's Mona Cuttle, Loma Bird and Zane Beckett, with the trio announcing "they had enjoyed beating club president Cedric Campbell" during the day.
Organisers thanked the sponsors for their wonderful support once again and every one of the bowlers from around the Far North who came out and helped make it such a wonderful day.
On the last Saturday in June, the Church Road club held its annual Pak'nSave Open in equally ideal conditions. Local commentator Faye Irwin Erceg said a perfect day dawned crisp and clear with patches of mist on the hills which turned into a warm and windless early spring-like day, with the local bowling fraternity turning out in force and in mufti; 16 teams representing five clubs contesting the mixed triples tournament.
They played four games of 1 hour 10 minutes each in a happy atmosphere and by the end of the day, the bowlers were ready for a welcome cuppa and buffet afternoon tea. Prize winners received generous vouchers courtesy of the major sponsors and were appreciative of the club's generosity in aspects including providing a clean green, hospitality and match committee organisation. Results were, Allan Thom, Barry Alison, Jill Phillips 4 games (won), 22 ends, 52 points, 1; Jack Hughes, Bunty Barron, Nancy Page 3.5, 22, 31, 2; Dorothy Hardy, Freda May, Sonny Hokai 3, 19, 32, 3.