More people playing bowls more often
Did you miss the last issue of our Friday Flash...
It's how we roll...
"The simple bare necessities. Forget about your worries and your strife ... The bare necessities of life will come to you"
Promises Baloo the bear in Disney's "The Jungle Book."
Business Development Officers
Meet Tania Sam, Bowls Development Officer at Blockhouse Bay Bowls.
In last week's issue, we stated in error Alastair McKenzie is the Business Development Officer for Pringle Park. We should have stated Royal Oak and Bridge Park.
Definition of Pace
An indecipherable, unfathomable element, which you never quite master. It depends on the wind, the moisture, the variety of grass, or how much Fred used the roller last week. Then too, the end areas where the bowlers have been walking are faster than the middle. Another imponderable is the pace of your old arm! Shouldn't have done all that gardening on Thursday.
Source: The Lawn Bowls Dictionary
by Keith Dunstan
Image source: Reading Bowling Club, UK
What's coming up...
Are we there yet... almost!
Here are the latest updates for Auckland Centre events in March. You can read our news item on playing dates here. These dates may change following the Covid-19 update this afternoon.
National 7s Interclub
This event is now a one-day qualifying event to be played on Sunday 7 March 2021 with the final to be played on Saturday 13 March 2021.
You can view the revised playing format in the Conditions of Play. Click here to view.
If you have any team or player changes, please make sure you contact your skip or club secretary.
Club events
Bowls is for anyone of any age!
Our clubs offer a variety of events regardless of your playing ability - they have something to suit everyone.
Click this link or the button to view what the clubs are offering.
News from the green...
Twilight Bowls3Five has become a popular event for our clubs. The fast and fun nature of this format is proving to be a hit. We have two clubs that share why they are seeing success.
We have a waiting list for goodness sake!
Bridge Park’s Twilight Bowls3Five continues to go from strength to strength with 32 teams playing every Friday night.
Bowls Development Officer, Alastair McKenzie tells us "We started this format several years ago. Firstly it was a business house league, but it quickly grew into a Family and Friends league. The power of Facebook helped kick-start things, everyone in Mangere Bridge seems to have heard about us and want to play. We have a waiting list for goodness sake".
Alastair attributes its success to playing on a Friday night - "it's perfect for kicking-off everyone’s weekend", he says. He is seeing a generational change taking place in the community. "We have a lot of 30 to 40-year-old parents living locally who love getting together with their mates at the club. It’s awesome to see the kids running around having as good a time as their mums and dads".
The club's aim is to get these young parents and their kids to become the next generation of Bridge Park members. The club is quite confident they will continue full greens for the next series.
Starting small but growing in popularity...
Rocky Nook Bowls' first Twilight Bowls3Five series (in fact first Twilight Bowls of any description) has been a great success!
They chose to start small with just one green of teams but being slightly oversubscribed ended up with a field of 18 teams. The sense of fun, friendliness and of course a bit of competition has their event growing in popularity... the players are raving about it! Even those who have not won a game are keen and intend to become club members.
"The club has already gained six new social members and one family member. It is incredibly rewarding not only for the members delivering the event but also for the local event sponsors" says Business Development Officer and Club Secretary, Steve King. "We're are building momentum by offering two new comps; the #TwilightBowls3Five Koanga series in October and the Raumati series next January, both have keen interest from our members".
Pacific Islands bowlers demanding more...
The Matson Shipping Fiji Bowlers in Auckland (FBA) Carnival has the Pacific Islands bowls community demanding more.
Thirty-two teams decked out in the colours of Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and hosts, Fiji, turned out for the event at the Mangere Bowling Club last month. It was the biggest gathering of Pacific Islands bowlers in Auckland in a while, and it made an impression, a big one.
"It was a rousing success, one that exceeded all expectations," says the Fiji Bowlers' president in Auckland Association, Jerry Elbourne.
Sam Toloki, President Royal Oak Bowling club and his team representing Tonga, won the tournament.
Your news...
We love receiving your news and stories to feature in our Friday Flash. Don't miss out, the deadline to send in any news or club tournament info is 1pm on Thursday. Simply email roz@aucklandbowls.co.nz.
