Bowls Auckland launches Club Leaders initiative

On Tuesday 22 August, Bowls Auckland hosted the first workshop of the newly established Club Leaders Programme. Its purpose is to create opportunities for club leaders to come together to share and discuss key topics that will assist clubs in delivering amazing experiences to their community.

As clubs operate at various levels, we have created two groups: Presidents / Chairs focussed on governance or strategy and Secretaries / Managers highlighting operational or delivery components of a club.

The inaugural Club Leaders – Governance session focussed on strategic planning and how clubs can best establish or refresh their Strategic Plan.  The first Club Leaders – Operational workshop is set for Tuesday 5 September covering everything BowlsHub to ensure clubs have the knowledge to adopt the new platform.

CEO Dean Bartlett commented, “Club administrators, either paid or voluntary, are integral to our system, and we are hugely grateful for their contribution.  This programme has been set up to hopefully make their lives a little easier by equipping them with the knowledge and ability to advance their club and bowls.  It is also a terrific way for us to keep our ears to the ground and learn how we can best support clubs.”

“It was fantastic to host nearly 20 club representatives at the first session, and we look forward to many more clubs joining us in the future.”

Fisher and Motu notch up another win!

-- Les Smith

An overcast sky and bitterly cold winds didn’t deter the 34 teams competing in last Saturday’s ABCA Cup.  Hot on the heels of the successful Canoe and Campi events, players were just as keen to get the day underway. 

Playing on Howick’s newly completed E-green, the four rounds were highly competitive.  After two rounds 10 teams had two wins, after three rounds eight teams had three wins.

The in-form David Motu and Steve Fisher were riding the wave of success and for the second week notched up a win – this time teaming up with Steve’s family members, Lee, and Nicole.

• Winners from Central: D Motu, S Fisher, L Singer, N Singer – four wins, 24 ends, 31 NToS
• Runners up from Southeast: S Campbell and team – four wins, 23 ends, 35 NTos

Amusing players while waiting for the results to come in, MP Simeon Brown was on hand to present place-getters and winners with their prizes.

A huge thank you to Howick Bowls for hosting, thanks to the zone convenors and their band of coaches and helpers who volunteered their time to share their coaching knowledge with the 1-5s.  Thanks to Gerard Hulst for being the Tournament Convenor and to Gwen and Christine for their expertise.

Winners pictured above with coaches and helpers pictured below

Lead up to the World Champs

-- Paul Neazor

In a couple of days or so the biggest bowls event of the year kicks off. With a tip of the cap to Royal Oak, it’s not their Year 1-5 Pairs comp; rather, it’s the World Bowls Championship on the Gold Coast. And I’m going to be there, taking it all in.

At this point, I deftly avoid the hail of rotten tomatoes, dodgy eggs and half-chewed Brussels sprouts flying out of the crowd and start thinking about what might unfold right in front of my eyes.

The first thing – a no-brainer here – is some outstanding bowls, played by a lot of people who make the game look ridiculously easy. It’s going to be an education watching players I’ve only seen on telly, including Alex Marshall, Paul Foster, Katherine Rednall, the Aussie Aarons (and Aron), and a whole host of others from rink side. These days many of them play a lot more on indoor carpet surfaces than on grass, but they won’t have too much trouble adjusting.

Bowls NZ World Champs info hub

Bowls NZ has set up a one-stop info hub covering everything on the World Bowls Championships - to find results, access broadcast links, learn more about the Blackjack team, and see what's happening behind the scenes!

There will also be regular radio updates on SENZ during the week and Newstalk ZB on Saturdays and Sundays for the duration of the event.

Ode to The Bone
We meet in friendly rivalry, this matter to decide,
To see if here the bone remains, or be taken for a ride.

And who could find a better way, to reach the object goal,
Than play out it upon the green in matching bowl for bowl.

To us this is the symbol, the bond that hold us tight,
No costly jewel adorns it yet we play with all our might,

For friendship is the treasure, Far better it than gold,
So long as memories linger, you’ll find its anchor hold.

Syd Mullenger

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