NZ Sign Language Week
9-12 May 2022
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week is a chance for the Deaf community to stand proud as Deaf, and to celebrate their language and culture. It also works to break down barriers, fears and misconceptions. NZSL Week lets Deaf New Zealanders put their hands up and be seen!
Did you know NZSL became an official language in 2006?
Visit NZSL website to find out more
Champ of Champs Women's Singles
Carlton Cornwall Bowls
7-8 May 2022
Auckland's Champion of Champions Women's Singles was held last weekend, hosted by Carlton Cornwall - and did Carlton turn on magnificent weather and a perfect green for both days of play!
A total of 19 entries needed to be whittled down to a winner.
The draw threw up intriguing match-ups in the Round of 32, particularly between Grey Lynn’s Liz Rereiti (13) and Auckland BC’s Philly Akaruru (21). The Round of 16 produced a keenly fought match between Pt Chevalier’s Joe McKenna (19) and Mangere’s Linda Pedro (21).
Quarter-final, game 4 saw Epsom’s Rosary Sellick competing against Auckland BC’s Philly Akaruru. The scorecard showed Rosary jump out to a 9-1 lead after five ends and extended to 16-8 after 13 ends. Philly had squared the ledger at 16-all on the 18th end. On the next two ends, Rosary scored a 3 and a 1 to sit on match point. Philly fought back with three shots to be down 19–20. On the 23rd end, Rosary scored the crucial shot to win 21-19.
Quarter-final, game 3 saw Linda Pedro from Mangere take on Carlton Cornwall’s Linda Ralph. Linda Pedro jumped to a 7-0 lead after three ends. Steady bowls saw Linda Ralph close the gap and lead 10-9 after 12 ends. Linda Pedro found her second wind & after 20 ends, led 19-13. Linda Ralph finally got control of the mat, enabling her to win the next five ends in a row, to take the match 21-19.
In Semi-final one, Te Atatu’s Lauren Mills was up against Blockhouse Bay’s Esther Eu. Lauren’s good form seemed to wane on the second day - Esther took the match 21-8.
Semi-final two, it's Carlton Cornwall’s Linda Ralph versus Epsom’s Rosary Sellick. Rosary’s appearance in the semi-final certainly caused tongues to wag as she is a relatively new bowler at the Champ of Champs level. Tongues wagged harder when she led 13-11 after 18 ends. Linda withstood the pressure and eventually won the match on the 25th end, 21-15.
It's the Final - Blockhouse Bay’s Esther Eu competing against Carlton Cornwall’s Linda Ralph. Esther made a strong start, leading 4-2 after four ends. Linda then played short ends to seemingly upset Esther’s rhythm as Linda pushed her way to a 17-4 lead after 12 ends. Esther made a spirited comeback, but it only delayed the inevitable, Linda winning 21-9.
The competition was played in good spirits. In many games, the scoreboard did not do justice to the competitiveness and luck that abounds in bowls. Well done to all the participants. Congratulations on your new title Linda, we wish good bowling thoughts to you for the National Champion of Champions Women’s Singles taking place in July.
Contributed by Tournament Convenor, Gerard Hulst
Winner Linda Ralph is presented trophy by Helen Blick, Auckland Bowls with runner-up Esther Eu
Hikurangi hustle
1-5 Mercedes Cup
7 May 2022
The 'owick Auks won the Auckland 1–5 Year Interclub champs and with it the right to represent Auckland at the Mercedes Cup competition at Hikurangi, Northland.
Our team consisted of three reps, two club titleholders and some random second-year bowler as the Triples lead! We had a practice run at home on the previous Tuesday against some of our better senior players, this did not go well.
Did you know that SH1 north of the Johnstones Hill tunnels is pretty well a continuous construction site? What a mission going north on a Friday.
We were allowed to practice at Hikurangi on Friday afternoon and this did go quite well. However, on Saturday morning the green was a completely different beast and proceeded to change in speed and width during the day, this occasionally went well.
David won all of his Singles games in Auckland comfortably, at Hikurangi, against Manly - he had to kill the last end and win the replay to get the points. Against Kensington, he scored four shots on the last end to get a draw. Our Pairs had a bye first, a loss, then ground out three wins on the trot. The Triples had two wins and a draw going into the last game, they then allowed Kensington to get 11-0 up before clawing back to 11-10 and holding two shots on the last end. Unfortunately, Kensington produced two wonderful bowls to win 13-10.
There are 12 games for each team in this competition, we won eight, drew two and lost two. Not bad I hear you say, we only just won the trophy by one game. This is a tough comp, a bowl one mat from the jack did simply not cut it.
I have not played at this level previously and have found it to be a chastening experience. More practice.
That Hikurangi Bowling Club runs a slick operation. The grounds and clubhouse are immaculate, the welcome sincere, the catering amazing, and the event is run like clockwork. However, they do have this ear-splitting siren to start and finish each game - even I am not that deaf.
After playing on a sand-based green I will have to get out the 800 grit wet and dry and some cutting compound to get a shine back on the bowls.
Anyway, I need to thank a couple of people. Diane, Colin and Glenda, who understand the value of support at away games, Noeline and Lana who restrained me when I started beating myself up, David for the gall to wear a Mercedes cap all day, Eddie for his quiet encouragement and counsel, Bruce for his good cheer and team building. Linda and Greg, my Triples teammates, who appeared with buckets of No More Gaps after my lapses. And mainly Richard for his astute selections, I will keep looking for what he sees in me.
One fine day in May of 2022 on an Auckland Rep Day I played for the Howick Bowling Club team in the Mercedes Cup and we won. I pinch myself. I must phone my grandson, it’s bragging time.
Article by Random Sadgrove
Winning team: David Weir, Greg Dowdell, Linda Fenton, Eddie Jones, Rod Sadgrove & Bruce Fenton with Richard Ludbrook,
Eddie and Linda accepting the trophy from Anne Muir, President of Bowls Northland
National Bowls3Five Finals
Naeanae Bowling Club
6-8 May 2022
At the 2022 national finals of the Bowls3Five Interclub, Auckland Bowls was represented by Auckland Bowling Club, winning the Centre playoff event. The Auckland Bowling Club was made up of Maroi Preeti as lead, Viliami Fifita as two and Bevan Beckham as skip (pictured below).
On day one they played Dobson with a loss, Inglewood with a loss, Hastings Hornets with a win and Waihopai with a win. Day two it was Elwood Park Saints with a loss, a bye, Raumati Blue with a win and Naenae with a win. With three teams from our section on four wins we waited with bated breath, and with the most ends won the spot for the second qualifier, for the quarter-finals the following day.
First up was Gore Rams with Clare Hendra as lead, Craig Merrilees as two and Sheldon Bagrie-Howley as skip. Five down after four ends and we got a five! Yeah, a draw for the first set. Then not even a power play could get us in the picture so we retired gracefully to watch the semi-finals and finals!
Our team made the top eight which was a great achievement considering the quality of the teams entered.
Thank you to Auckland Bowls for their support! Congratulations to Elmwood Park Saints for taking out the championship.
Contributed by Greame Scott
Pictured at Naenae Bowling Club, Auckland Originals team with Greame Scott
Skills Training Academy
5 May 2022
Auckland Bowls has introduced a Skills Training Academy. The Academy is a strategic initiative to implement a Talent ID programme. Its aim is to provide opportunities for identified talent to strive and ultimately reach their full bowling potential.
Held every fortnight our second training session was held last week on 5 May. Here's the team - all smiles after completing their visualisation and mental focus drills and activities. They will spend the next two weeks working on Tuesday's activities before refocusing on another skill set.
A special thank
you to all at Auckland Bowling Club for the use of their facilities.
Front (L-R): Jaime Delany, Judy Raill, Coach Robyn Reihana, Janine Young, Les Linden, Aggie Motu, Olivia Bloomfield, Paris Baker.
Back (L-R): Dean Edge, Kevin Beasley, Ian Dee, Darral Gordon, Peni Panapa, Bryce Mackie.
Not pictured: Karen Hema, Jenny Stockford & Steve Gordon.
Down the road at 'Ferndale'
Last week's 'Where is Ferndale Bowling Club' prompted a bit of Ferndale history...
On the 15th of September in 1897 just down the road at “Ferndale” the house of Mr Tonson Garlick a meeting was held among those of the district who were interested in forming a bowling club. The meeting unanimously resolved to form the Mount Albert Bowling Club. They adopted the rules of the Auckland Bowling Club with a few minor amendments. They elected a committee with Mr Garlick as President to run their affairs. They appointed their first greenkeeper for 15 shillings a week.
The Garlicks were a prominent family in the district and much of the local activities occurred in and around their place. The local tennis club was already established on their property so it was only natural that the family would make available some land on which the bowling club could be established. Two rinks were formed and the opening day for the new club was on the 23rd of October that same year. The first subscription was set at one guinea. The club was not a year old when disaster struck. Mr Garlick on a trip to England contracted an illness and died. The loss was a severe blow as he was the driving force behind the club’s formation. The Garlick family continued to assist the club greatly during its formative years.
So, while Mt Albert was never called Ferndale it did spend its first 10 years at Ferndale. The Mt Albert Croquet club started its life on what is now the top green at Mt Albert. In 1921 when the bowling club was growing, they kicked the croquet club out. They landed up the back on the original land that the bowling club was on. They eventually purchased the land, and they are still there. Their entrance is off Lloyd Avenue.
Contributed by Michael Feek. Source: Our History, Mt Albert Bowling Club
Kilmarnock Bowling Club, 1740
Recently watching one of the episodes of Secret Scotland, we learned the Kilmarnock Bowling Club, the oldest in the world, is still playing on the same green created in 1740.
It was also here that the rules as we know them today were created. Generally, we follow the same structure as they were first drafted.
Amazingly, my wife’s uncle J L Donaldson played at their indoor facility in 1954 - he was the Singles runner-up.
Contributed by Phil Bowden
Upcoming events
14-15 May – Champ of Champs Pairs and 1-5 Year Pairs
21-22 May – Champ of Champs Triples and 1-5 Year Triples
28-29 May – Champ of Champs Fours and 1-5 Year Singles
4-5 June – 1-5 Year Finals
11-12 June – 1-5 Year Fours
19 June – Auckland Bowls awards function
All the best to all bowlers competing in this weekend's Auckland Champ of Champs Pairs & 1-5 Year Pairs.
Champ of Champs Pairs
We will be live-streaming a Quarter-final, a Semi-final match and the Final. Check back later on our website and Facebook page for the links.
Men's Semi-finals has a new start time - it is now 11:30am.
From our clubs
Business House at BHB
Blockhouse Bay
8 May 2022
Last Sunday, we held our annual Business House Tournament - it is a highlight event for the club. We had 22 teams of Fours taking part this year. Even though the minimum requirement was one non-bowler per team, around 80% of non-bowlers were among the participating players.
The weather was very kind to us, clear blue sky throughout the day with not much wind - the two grass greens were also beautiful to play on.
Everyone had fun and enjoyed themselves, all going home with a prize. Thank you to the many local business sponsors who donated the prizes, including the 20 raffle prizes.
Thank you too to our wonderful team of club volunteers whose efforts made this tournament a great success. See you all next year. Congratulations to the winners: Doug Vague, Bruce Hathaway, Leon Cosgrove & Roy Bennett.
Contributed by Weng Lim
AMs & Arvos
Remuera Bowling Club
12 May 2022
It was cold cash prizes and warm winter welcomes at Remuera’s Thursday AMs & Arvos.
Brian Gibbons (pictured left with convenor Grahame Brown) was the winner of the first winter Thursday afternoon 2-4-2 at Remuera Bowling Club. Remuera welcomes winter play and all bowlers to enjoy the cozy covered green every week with alternating morning and afternoon sessions on Thursdays. Next up is AC Triples on 19 May.
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