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BIG TOURNEY: Arawa Bowling Club player Ian Herron during the 39th Arawa Speight's Open men's fours tournament. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 070214SP2

For the first time in more than a decade, the winning skip has won back-to-back titles at the Arawa Speight's Open men's fours tournament.

Gisborne's David File led his Te Karaka team to victory in the four-day tournament this week, which attracted 28 teams to Rotorua's Arawa Bowling Club.

He also skipped Gisborne's Riverside team to victory in last year's tournament.

His team this year included Duncan Macpherson, who played in the winning team last year, Steve Goldsbury, and Opotiki's John Dawson.

The Te Karaka team won all their matches at the competition to claim the Bill Warren Memorial Trophy. They were pushed hard by Taradale who recorded an equal number of wins but placed second on ends.

"It has been a good four days," a victorious File said after the tournament.

"This is the second time I have been here, it is a friendly tournament and the grounds are pretty good."

File was not aware he had matched Vogeltown's John Roberts 1999/2000 record of skipping a team to back-to-back titles.

However, he said it would be good to come back next year and have a shot at trying to make it a record three victories in a row.

"I haven't thought too much about it, but it might be something that would be quite special," he said.

File has been playing bowls since he was 13 and was one of the youngest bowlers taking part this week at the age of 47.

He has won four national titles including two national singles titles.

Rotorua clubs featured 11 teams at the tournament but unfor-tunately none progressed to the A division, during post-section play on Wednesday and Thursday.

Arawa Bowling Club teams won the C and D division titles while a Rotorua Bowling Club side won the E division.

Arawa Bowling Club member Oscar Grant started the tournament in 1976 and has missed only a couple of tournaments during the past 39 years.

"I started it in 1976 and ran it for the first five years," the 93-year-old said. "It is an enjoyable and friendly tournament."

The tournament will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.

Open men's fours tournament

Results:

A division champions: Te Karaka (D File, J Dawson, S Goldsbury, D Macpherson)
B division winners: Omanu (T Clarke, J Jennings, K Benvin, T Hingston)
C division winners: Arawa (L McLeay, P Spackman, L Woods, L McLellan)
D division winners: Arawa (M Horsley, P Gallacher, I Herron, R Hallam)
E division winners: Rotorua (P Hunt, D Watt, K Alcock, B McMillan)