Quadrangular challenge

1-2 October 2022

1-5 Year and Premier representative sides from Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Northland, and North Harbour compete in the first Quadrangular challenge for the new season. 

First up on Saturday 1 October, is the 1-5 Year challenge, hosted by Auckland. Meanwhile, North Harbour hosts the Premier event on Sunday 2 October.

We hear all the zones are eager to hit the green and test their skills against each other - good luck ev

Our Auckland representatives

We are pleased to announce players who are representing Auckland for the Quad challenge:

Men's Prem - Blue team 
Singles: Mike Galloway
Pairs: Skip-Tony Grantham, Lead-Jamie Hill
Fours: Skip-Adam Wishnoski, Two-Martin Dixon, Three-Aiden Takarua, Lead-Nick Thompson

Men's Prem - White team 
Singles: Peni Panapa
Pairs: Skip-Teo Turua, Lead-Mike Bradshaw
Fours: Skip-Mae Taurua, Two-Kevin Beasley, Three-Scott Harrison, Lead-Les Brown

Women's Prem - Blue team 
Singles: Linda Ralph
Pairs: Skip-Ashleigh Jeffcoat, Lead-Lisa Prideaux
Fours:  Skip-Rima Strickland, Two-Estelle Hickey, Three-Karen Hema, Lead-Aggie Motu

Women's Prem - White team
Singles: Kimberley Hemingway
Pairs: Skip-Lesley McLinden, Lead-Jenny Stockford
Fours: Skip-Catherine Bien, Two-Janine Young, Three-Judy Raill, Lead-Sue Curran
Reserve:  Jaime Delaney

Prem management team: Alison Rennie, Neville Hill, John Ross, Bev Crowe

1-5 Year​​​​​​ Men
Colin Aryis-Webster, Zoran Bartulovich, Stephen Campbell, Steve Fisher, Jean-Claude Fuller, Liam Hill, Darryl Mackie, Scott McCamish, David Motu, Paul Neazor, David Weir 

1-5 Year​​​​​​ Women
Lisa Appleyard, Rita Bradnock, Jeanine Browne, Pippa Hassell, Shelley McCabe, Lee Singer, Nicole Singer, Gloria Tenaki, Loa Tukutoga, Karen Spels, Andrea Wilson    

1-5 Year management team: Peter Blucher, Garry Cotton, John Ross, Les Smith, Chris Staples.

Congratulations to all the players named in the Auckland rep squads.  We wish you all the best in bowling this weekend.

Venues

The Premier Men are playing at Manly, the Premier Women at Browns Bay. 

Due to the forecasted wet weather, 1-5s are moving from Blockhouse Bay to covered venues.  The Men will now play at New Lynn Bowls and the Women at Remuera Bowls.

Upcoming events

1 Oct  – Auckland Rep Day: 1-5 Year
2 Oct  – Auckland Rep Day: Open Prem
2 Oct  –  Auckland President’s Day
8 Oct – 1-5 Year Fours Finals 
15-16 Oct – National Intercentre
22-23 Oct – Open Women’s Prem Singles
26 Oct –  Secondary School Pairs
27 Oct  – Bowls 3Five 1-5 Year
29 Oct – Interclub & Half Day 6s

What an enthralling final

1-5 Year Triples Final
26 September 2022

Semi-Final 1 saw Blockhouse Bay’s Jim Hunter, Herbert Lelo & Crag Moffat take on Onehunga & Districts Glenn Taylor, Terangisaia Tangaroa & James Forsyth. Blockhouse Bay got off to a flying start and had 10 points on the board after five ends. Onehunga & Districts began to play catch up with some fine shots however, the deficit was too much - Blockhouse Bay rack up the win, 18-10. 

Semi-Final 2 saw a Composite team of David Motu (Ellerslie), Steve Fisher (Royal Oak) & Colin Ayris-Webster (Royal Oak) take on the Howick combination of David Weir, Graeme Thomson & Greg Dowdell. The Composite team came out firing they were 11-1 after seven ends. Howick then made a strategic comeback to square the ledger 16-all after 16 ends. They dropped a silly three on the 17th and although they picked up a one on the final end, it was not enough. The final score was 19-17 to the Composite side.

The Final delivered what it promised, an enthralling encounter. Neither side exerted dominance it was neck and neck scoring. After 14 ends, the Composite side led 16-8. Blockhouse Bay picked up five shots over the next three ends to make it 16-13 with one end to play. Some fine bowling from Craig and Herbert had BHB three up on the turn. With his first bowl, Jim drew a toucher to move the jack closer to the ditch and sit for four.  David Motu then showed us his class as he calmly lined up and let fly a pearler of a drive that took out two of the shot bowls leaving the jack untouched. 

Jim needed to draw close for a third to perhaps force the tie break - his bowl got caught up in some short, front stuff. David didn’t play his final bowl. It was a magnificent game!

Congratulations, to all four finalists. A special thanks to Peter Bennett and his Remuera team for their hospitality on the day.

Close matches & surprising results as Singles look to qualify

1-5 Year Singles
24-25 September 2022

Men's Singles

With 70 entries spread over five venues, it is hard to comment on any particular game or section.  Suffice it to say, I was pleased to see Codi Lockie of Carlton Cornwall qualify for post section.  It was also good to see Mark Cameron from Ponsonby entering the tournament.  There were some surprise results with Liam Hill of Onehunga & Districts dropping his second game to Zak Buckingham of Mt Eden. Liam would go on to win his last match and qualify, whereas Zak’s fortunes waned. At the end of a long day, we had 34 qualifiers.  

Post section was going to be busy, we needed to play out the Rounds of 64, 32 & 16. It meant those playing at St Heliers had the luxury of only playing two games.  A small bonus considering they had to get up earlier with the start of daylight saving!

There were some close games and some surprising results.  The eight quarter Finalists are:

Game 1: Steve Fisher (Royal Oak) to play John Vujnovich (Pringle Park)
Game 2: James Forsyth (O & Districts) to play Brett Christie (Carlton Cornwall)
Game 3: pale Luka (Papatoetoe HC) to play Steve Campbell (Pt Chevalier)
Game 4: Warwick catchpole (Epsom) to play Prakash Ranchhod (Papatoetoe HC)

The Finals will be played on a date and time to be mutually agreed on between players.

Women's Singles

There were 24 entries spread over two venues. Talk about having some close games. For me, the match of the day was between Hannah Dawson of Pakuranga against Rebecca Brosnan of Royal Oak. What struck me about this game was the tenacity of the draw. Neither player ran or drove at the head, rather they backed themselves to draw out of trouble. Even though Rebecca would eventually win the game, both players would go on to qualify for post section - 13 players qualified. 

Round 16 Game 4 saw Jo Crooks of St Heliers up against Lisa Appleyard of Kohimarama. Lisa started off well but found herself 6-13 down after 12 ends. Undeterred, she produced some fine bowling to see the scores tied at 16-all after 18 ends. Lisa managed to keep up the pressure to eventually take out the win 21-19.

Quarter Final Game 4 saw Rita Bradnock of Onehunga & Districts up against Andrea Wilson of Papatoetoe HC. This was a tight match all the way. When the bell rang for time, the score was 16-all. The drama continued at tie break end - the umpire was called for a calipers measure when the final bowl was played. The shot and the win went in favour of Andrea.

Semi-Final 1 saw Rhonda Thompson of Bridge Park up against Skye Renes of Pt Chevalier. Skye showed early dominance and led 17-7 after 15 ends. Rhonda began to fight back, she closed the gap to 15-18 on the 21st end. Skye held her nerve to go on to win 21-16.

Semi-Final 2 saw Jeanine Browne of Carlton Cornwall up against Andrea Wilson of Papatoetoe HC.  The game hinged on two crucial ends. On the 14th, Jeanine was holding three. 

Andrea played a weighted shot, picked out the jack clean, and sat in the ditch. Jeanine drew close to secure second. However, with her last bowl, Andrea drew to the plinth for two. On the 15th end, Andrea had bowled four short. With the last bowl of the over Jeanine looked to move the jack to her back bowls. Cruelly, she was a touch heavy and did not collect the jack cleanly, it hit one of her bowls and rebounded up the rink for Andrea to score three. That left the score at 20-8. Jeanine kept her composure and made Andrea fight hard for that final point, which she eventually secured on the 18th end.

Like the Men's, the Finals will be played on a mutually agreed date and time.

Contributed by Gerard Hulst, Singles photos courtesy Dave Dawson

He's been a very lucky boy, so says Jack McDowell

Kohimarama Bowls
27 September 2022

On Tuesday at Kohimarama Bowling Club, we were all so excited to learn Jack McDowell had turned 99 on Sunday 25 September.

While one year shy of 100, this near centurion is not shy around a microphone. He rose to a standing ovation from the other players for his amazing life and the fact that he’s still out there bowling incredible bowls! Jack graciously wished all there to live well into their nineties. But perhaps 99 for everyone is a wish too far! "I've been a very, very lucky boy!"  

Jack joined Mission Bay Men's Bowling Club in 1987 as a new bowler. A competitive bowler, Jack also served as tournament organiser for 12 years as well as President and Secretary. He has been a member at St Heliers Bowling Club since 2015 where he remains competitive. Jack's SHBC team on Tuesday included Terry Lash and Jill Donovan.

Pictured below is Jack McDowell with club president, Margie Sorenson.

Centre events

Club events