Ian Lewis

Hawera Park Bowling Club Gearing up for Centenary

“We will hold our centenary in 2021,” said Bill Batchelor, the Hawera Park Bowling Club’s genial manager, surveying the host of mid-week bowlers relaxing over their afternoon tea. Already there are reminders of the upcoming event in the clubhouse as a novelty Fine Box beside the wall for players delivering wrong biased bowls.

The establishing of a second bowling club for Hawera was an expression of the post World War I desire to have sports facilities available to the residents of the town.

There was already the Hawera Bowling Club, 25 years old, well established, and regularly hosting teams from major centres throughout New Zealand but local sentiment was that a second club was needed at the western end of town.

The Borough Council was already aware of this and had planned a site on the Camberwell Rd side of the park for the Park Bowling Club, that only waited for an organiser.

Charles Curtis was a well known local man, partner in the coach building business Curtis and Spragg, and had been bowling for the Hawera Bowling Club for some years and answered the challenge.

He called a meeting on the December 22, 1920 where he explained to the 25 present the value of having a second bowling club for the town. A committee was elected, Patron, the Mayor Mr Dixon, President Mr Curtis, vice presidents Messrs Lewis and Black, Treasurer Mr Westerway, auditor Mr Stannard, Committee, Messrs Card, McPhillips, Butler, Burrell and Stannard.

The initial subscription was set at two guineas and 30 names were handed in for would-be members.

They wasted little time ploughing their allocated site at the park, the green prepared and sown, registering the club as an incorporated society and applying to be accepted by the Taranaki Bowling Centre.

The next thing was to have plans for a pavilion that were quickly accepted by the borough council, the architects Duffill and Gibson called for tenders, which were won by Mr Burrell on July 16, 1921.

He set about providing the club with a pavilion that would last until burnt by a disastrous fire many years later when it graced a new green in High St.

Mr Curtis, as President of the Park Bowling Club, responded to invitations to the opening days of the numerous clubs throughout South Taranaki during October 1921, meeting bowlers at Pihama, Auroa and Opunake; Hawera opened on October 6, but the park club was delayed by rain until November 2, when representatives of Hawera, Patea, Waverley, New Plymouth and Inglewood were present.

The brilliant sunshine of Wednesday, November 2, brought out a large crowd of enthusiastic bowlers and visitors who heard the welcoming speech from the club President Charles Curtis, where he told of the hard work the committee and the supporters had put in over the past 12 months to be able to have their own green and pavilion.

He concluded by giving advice to bowlers’ wives, when he said that if their husband was not in the best of humour they should send him off to the bowling green because there was no better cure for a ‘grumpy hubby’ than a game of bowls.

Mr JD Sole, the president of the Taranaki Bowling Centre spoke next and after congratulating the new Park Bowling Club told the assembly that in the current year (1921) there were 13,301 bowlers in New Zealand of whom more than 1000 lived in Taranaki, the third largest bowling centre in New Zealand.

After the speeches and a game “a bountiful afternoon tea was provided by Mrs Curtis of which several hundred people took part”.

Arthur Fryer
https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/lifestyle/74445175/arthur-fryer-hawera-park-bowling-club-gearing-up-for-2021-centenary

By Gyde its a Family Affair at the Taranaki Open Mens Fours Bowling Tournament

Gyde Family Bowls Team

The Gyde family bowling team has yet to hit on the winning streak in the Taranaki Open Men’s Fours tournament.

The Inglewood four of father Barry, sons Chris and Kevin, and cousin Don are newcomers to the tournament which began this week on greens around the region.

The 116th annual tournament has retained its reputation, in spite of the absence of Australian entries due to Covid 19, as one of the most popular national bowling competitions.

The Gyde combination, one of five teams entered from Inglewood Bowling Club, are just happy to be one of the 164 teams involved.

The four, was formed specifically to play in the Open Fours tournament.

After three days of qualifying rounds, wins have been hard to come by for the team, which needed to win six from eight games to qualify for the play-offs.

“We’re still chasing our first win,” said Kevin, who, with brother Chris, is a bowling novice.

Chris and Kevin’s lack of bowling experience is made up for by older hands, Don and Barry.

“It’s their first year at playing bowls, and our first Taranaki Open as a team,” Barry said.

“It gives them both an opportunity chance to play alongside Don and me.

“We haven’t had a win yet but we have some good fun along the way.”

The team, stalwarts of Inglewood club rugby, enjoyed the camaraderie generated by mixing with players from around New Zealand and listening to more experienced bowlerswho have generously passed on tips, he said.

Don, the skip, has guided the team through the basic skills, while Barry, back on the greens after two knee replacements, adds valuable input.

“The first day was about learning the ropes,” Don said.

“We’ve got no hope of winning it outright, but we might be able to upset some teams.

“Our objective at the start was to win at least one game.

“It will be a great night in Inglewood when we have our first win.”

Mike Watson
https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/300210031/by-gyde-its-a-family-affair-at-the-taranaki-open-mens-fours-bowling-tournament

Bringing Back to Life the West End Classic

West End Bowling Club

The bringing back to life of the West End 10,000 Classic over Easter has been hailed as a resounding success by all of those involved in the Shifty’s Sports Bar-sponsored event.

The tournament has been absent from the Taranaki programme for some 15 years and its return was well received. While the majority of sides were from within Taranaki, there was a sprinkling of players from outside the province, who lapped up the ideal weather and greens running at high speed.

While the original classic format was not used – just fours and pairs – that suited the participants as they were able to devour the delights from the West End kitchen in between times.

Paritutu’s highly consistent and competent competitor, Darren Goodin, took out the top prize of $1,000 per player. His side had only just sneaked into the top flight after a mixed opening day.

But when the money was on show, there was no denying Goodin and his side of Nathan Goodin (no relation), Allan Batley and Adam Collins.

Heading into the last round, Goodin’s side was one of three unbeaten teams – along with Inglewood’s Gerry O’Sullivan and Ross Henderson from the host club.

Henderson, a former top basketball coach reinvented himself as a top lead during the weekend, but his side, after dropping an eight on the second end of the last round, crashed and burned to finish third.

O’Sullivan, who’s side included Bruce Candy the proprietor of Shifty’s, despite also falling in the final round, held on for second, with Paritutu’s Don Christensen claiming fourth.

West End’s Dean Elgar skipped his side to the second division title.

The smooth running of the event was greatly aided by the experienced trio in charge: Graham Johnson, Garry Murfitt and Brien Bennett QSM.

The positive atmosphere and comments left Candy in no doubt about the future prospects of the event. “In fact, I’ll throw in another couple of thousand next year to make it even more interesting,” he said.

* The original West End Classic was held in 1982, some 40 years ago, and was Taranaki’s first-ever professional event.

It drew a maximum field of 42 teams – including recent Commonwealth Games representatives Jim Scott, Peter Belliss, Danny O’Connor and Rowan Brassey. Also competing was Maurice Symes, who took part again in 2022 ahead of his return to his native Taranaki in June. Symes has accepted the greenkeeping position with the Fitzroy Club.

The 1982 winners were skipped by Fitzroy gold star holder John Howie, who teamed with Alan Crow – less than a month later he skipped Bruce John to the Dominion pairs title – Rodger Hassall and the delightful Hungarian, Johnny Nagy.

Bruce Ballinger (Paritutu) was second from Kevin Wing (Palmerston North) and Belliss.

Bowls New Zealand
https://bowlsnewzealand.co.nz/club-news/west-end-10000-classic-a-success/

Borrie Celebrates a Half Century at Manaia Bowling Club

Stu Borrie wasn’t keen on dolls or cricket so took up bowls and 50 years on he’s still going.

He first joined the Manaia Bowling Club in 1968 aged 13 and has fulfilled many roles since, including security, barman, assistant greenkeeper as well as serving on the committee and as a selector for the Smee and Syme shield sides.

“I’ve got four sisters so I didn’t want to play with dolls, I’d rather play bowls,” Borrie said.

To help celebrate the milestone the Manaia Bowling Club presented Borrie with an engraved silver tray and four crystal goblets.

“It’s bloody nice to receive the recognition from the club and is totally unexpected,” he said.

The Borrie name has had a close association with the club since it began  more than 100 years ago and who has also enjoyed great success.

Stu won his first junior title in 1968 and has played all forms of the game from singles to fours on his way to winning 22 club titles.

“My dad and four uncles all played here.” he said.

Borrie said some of his proudest achievements in bowls had been with his family.

“Winning the family fours in Waitara in the 1980’s in a team with Dad, two uncles and me was special,” he said.

“Also last year winning the Anzac fours here in Manaia, as well as my father and uncles all served.”

Hector Bell, past club president and committee member of the Manaia Bowling Club, said it was a rare feat especially for such a small club that in its prime had around 70 members but now had 26.

“He’s seen the changes from the old club rooms to the present ones and did some building and fundraising for that as well,” Bell said.

“You always know when Stuie’s on the green, you’ll always  hear him.” Bell said.

“It’s a real honour and the Manaia club wouldn’t be the same if it didn’t have a Borrie in it.”

While Borrie loves his bowls it isn’t the only game he played, in younger days he was a halfback in rugby and he enjoyed the camaraderie in both games.

“All of my rugby mates I’ve ended up playing bowls with,” he said. “And all those ones you fought with on the field you now have a beer and a reminisce with.”

Borrie said he had no plans of giving the game away just yet either.

“I’ll still plod along, I’m here for life, once you’re in you’re in.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/south-taranaki-star/103080446/borrie-celebrates-a-half-century-at-manaia-bowling-club

Kris Boult

Resurrecting Bowls Oldest Tournament at New Plymouth Bowling Club

New Plymouth Bowling Club

When the New Plymouth Bowling Club was established way back in 1885, there wasn’t a lot of bowls being played in New Zealand.  In fact, the only other club in the North Island was in Auckland’s Grafton Gully … the Auckland Bowling Club which had been around since 1861.

The New Zealand Bowling Association wasn’t formed until 1886, and the then existing 12 clubs in New Zealand didn’t start playing national competitions until 1891.

But early on, It must’ve quickly become a matter of provincial pride as to who had the ‘best’ bowling club in the North Island.

So the ‘Challenge Cup’ was conceived as a competition between Auckland and New Plymouth, and first played for in New Plymouth in 1886.

That must’ve been a big call.

Travel between Auckland and New Plymouth was by sailing ship … it was a long way to go just for a bowling tournament … and took a long time .. perhaps a week each way.

Overland was out of the question.  There was no State Highway 3.  In fact there was only a horse track between Awakino and Mokau which wasn’t widened to take a horse and cart until 1897.  The first car didn’t make it through until 1905, and even then some of the route required horse-drawn assistance along the beach.

“Despite the difficulties, the Challenge Cup was played for in 1886 and again the following year,” says Patron of the Auckland Bowling Club, Graeme Scott.  “It was in Auckland in 1887, and back in New Plymouth in 1888.  New Plymouth won on all three occasions.”

For whatever reasons, the challenges stopped for a few years.  And it wasn’t until 1912, that the idea of playing the challenge was revived again.

“They must’ve been serious,” says Graeme.  “Because both clubs contributed £6 towards the creation of a solid silver trophy mounted on a greenstone base.  It’d be worth a few bob today!”

“The trophy was played for in 1913, 1914 and 1915, and on each occasion, New Plymouth won.  Winning three years in a row, meant that New Plymouth retained the trophy.”

Challenges stopped (probably because of the first world war), and the trophy was largely forgotten about.  Until last year.

“We got wind of the Challenge Cup,” says Nenad Rajic, President of the Auckland Bowling Club.  “So we caught up with New Plymouth last year and challenged them for the cup.  They accepted.”

More than one hundred years later, in January this year in New Plymouth, the Challenge Cup was played for once again.

“We flew down to New Plymouth for the weekend with our Four of Phil Robottom (lead), myself at two, Glenn Newton (three) and Leif Selby (skip).  It was a great weekend … the bowls were challenging (we came away with the win) and the hospitality was superb.”

“They had a very competitive team … Graeme Earl (lead), Gordon Brown (two), Basil Newland (three) and skip, Richard Helms. Unfortunately Basil had to be substituted after the third end by an equally worthy replacement, Tobin Hori.”

However, the win didn’t mean that Auckland lifted the Challenge Cup.

“It’s a bit like the Bledisloe Cup … the current conditions of play mean that we have to win three times in a row,” explains Graeme.  “Having said that, the President of the New Plymouth Bowling Club, Grayson McEldowney, was gracious enough to allow us to ‘borrow’ the trophy for a while!”

“We’ve also agreed new on-going conditions of play.  It’ll be competed for every second year on a home and away basis … the next challenge will be in Auckland in 2025.”

“It’ll still be Fours … and we’ll still have to win three time in a row to lift the trophy.  But we’ve got one win under our belt now!”

Bowls New Zealand
https://bowlsnewzealand.co.nz/news/resurrecting-bowls-oldest-tournament-in-new-zealand-the-challenge-cup/

Frittering Away the Days at Awakino Bowling Club

Awakino

Mention Awakino, and most people will think of the small white baiting settlement on the west coast of the North Island: the last place on the coast before State Highway 3 hits the Awakino Gorge (going north) or the last place before a not-to-be-missed whitebait fritter sandwich at the Whitebait Inn or the River Run Café in Mokau (going south).

It’s a settlement of just 5 permanent households … and another 15 baches occasionally occupied by holidaymakers or white baiters during the season from the 15 August to the end of November.

It’s also the home of the Awakino Bowling Club … a club of 5 full-playing members, and15 social members. That mightn’t sound many, but in a town with a permanent population of ‘less than 10’, that’s like Auckland having a bowling club of 700,000 or 800,000 members!

“Only two of the permanents are playing members,” says Past President and Life Member Gail O’Keeffe, “The others come from around the district.”

Nevertheless, what other bowling club can skite about signing up 40% of the local population!

The Awakino Bowling Club is also the ‘Hadrian’s Wall’ of the Taranaki Centre – the northern most club in the Centre … defending the Taranaki bowls empire against the insidious encroachment of competitive leisure-time activities!

And as far as Gail is concerned, they’re not going to be doing any encroaching under her watch.

She’s determined to keep the club open until she can no longer, and she is helped by a group of locals who feel similarly about their club.

After all, the Awakino Bowling Club has been around for nearly 100 years.

It was created by the local hotel proprietor, Tony Bartlett, who was also a pretty sharp bowler in his time, and wanted to be able to practise his favourite sport without the long trip to town. He used his money (and corralled the help of some local labour) to build the green and clubhouse. The club kicked off in 1927 with 10 members and an annual sub of 50 shillings.

The club reached its zenith in the late 1950’s when it won the Northern Division Shield Championship in consecutive years (1956/1957 and 1957/1958) and again in 1967/1968 and 1979/1980.

“I didn’t join until 1992,” says Gail. “My husband and I had retired in 1987 down the road at Mokau. We had lived in Eltham, but used to come white baiting with a scoop net on the Mokau. I can remember mum saying that when she was a girl she used to put a net out while she milked the three house cows. She’d fill a 5-gallon can. She used to feed the left over whitebait to the pigs and chooks!”

These days whitebait is a little harder to come by. But it doesn’t stop the smallest club in the Centre running the lawn bowls tournament towards the end of November it’s renowned for: the Whitebait Tournament. “We’ve had 28 teams competing in the past,” says Gail, “14 teams out on the green … we only have 7 rinks … and 14 teams inside. We swap over every hour.”

“The winners get 300gms of whitebait each, and the runners-up 250gms.”

But more important to the Awakino area is the annual Awakino-Mokau Community Christmas Party, which is being run by the bowling club after the local Lions Club closed down.

“We get over 50 people here,” says Gail. “The club opens up the bar and puts on a feed of ham, chicken, potatoes, peas, salads, ice cream, jelly and pavlova.”

That’s what small communities are all about.

When they re-roofed the Awakino Community Hall across the road, the bowling club grabbed the old corrugated iron and built a ‘new’ fence around the green. It was gratefully received. The club isn’t wealthy … money is just used where it is needed … like the rates bill which is $35 every quarter. Otherwise, things only happen with volunteer labour.

“We’re proud of our club.” says Gail, “and we’re all looking forward to our centenary celebrations in 2027.”

Keep up the great work, Gail and team.

bowlsnewzealand.co.nz/news/frittering-away-the-days-at-awakino-bowling-club/

 

Stratford District Citizens Awards 2024: Gloria Corkill – always ready to help

Courtesy of The Stratford Press: 1st August 2024

Gloria Corkill is a 2024 Stratford District Council Citizens Award recipient.

Gloria Corkill is a 2024 Stratford District Council Citizens Award recipient.

When Gloria Corkill is sorting food at the Stratford Foodbank, or volunteering her time at the Stratford Salvation Army, she gets a sense of satisfaction knowing she’s helping those in need.

Corkill has spent almost half a century helping in various community organisations, and despite now being 85 she is yet to stop.

That community service has earned her a 2024 Stratford District Council Citizens Award.

She said she was shocked when she received the letter informing her of the award.

“I didn’t do this for an accolade or anything, I was very surprised.”

Corkill, who went to Eltham Public School and attended Stratford High School for two years, has always been ready to help, with all her volunteer work happening in Taranaki.

“I’ve lived in Taranaki for all my life.”

During her secondary school holidays, she helped at Hāwera Hospital.

“I worked as a nurse aide. At the time, they were short on staff so I used to work to relieve people during the holidays.”

Corkill lived in Toko for 23 years while her husband was the Toko Dairy Company foreman.

While there, she volunteered with the local Scouts club, spending seven years as a cub leader and three years as the district leader.

When the Douglas Athletics Club started, she was one of the first volunteers.

“I used to bring my children into town for athletics but when they started the athletics club in Douglas we moved there. I volunteered there while my children were competing.”

She left Toko in 1989, spending a year in Eltham caring for her mother before moving to Stratford in 1990. When she returned to town, she volunteered for 13 years at Budgeting Advice and four years with Grey Power.

Corkill was also one of the original members of the Stratford Positive Ageing Group. She has some fond memories of those early days, setting up the group and connecting with like-minded people in the community.

She was an umpire for outdoor bowls for roughly 30 years, first with Toko and then Stratford and across the wider Taranaki region.

In 1994, she joined the Citizens Advice Bureau, spending 20 years using her budgeting skills to help the community. During this time, she held the role of treasurer for four years and chairperson for another four years.

Two years later she started volunteering at the Stratford Salvation Army Family Store. She is still there 30 years on, spending her Saturday mornings there, helping those in need.

About 18 years ago she started with the Stratford Foodbank, sorting donations and making up parcels for those in need.

“All the food in the pantry comes from our Christmas drives, donations, organisations, collections and at the moment from the Food Network.”

Volunteering is something Corkill said she genuinely enjoys.

“I get a lot of satisfaction from it. I met lots of interesting people and made lots of friendships through volunteering.”

Stratford Mayor Neil Volzke said Corkill has done a lot over the years for her community and the wider district.

“She is an amazing volunteer who has served our community incredibly well for a time.”

Courtesy of The Stratford Press: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/stratford-press/news/stratford-district-citizens-awards-2024-gloria-corkill-always-ready-to-help/I5PPU4OHYBH35JYZVGFFGPFLHE/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEzULtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQ4FxY3m8y35KrPjzcEKfA26JNrrHhZaU8f1uh7wMIndoqQkCIQ4EO7GVQ_aem_fn7AKAyjGiFQDBzUTEWtEA
1st August 2024

Team’s Weekend Ruined after winning National Championship

A victorious Taranaki bowls team has returned disheartened after thieves took off with the bowls which won them the championship.

The Hawera women’s bowls team won the New Zealand Women’s second division interclub title against Raumati South, at the Carlton Cornwall Club in Auckland on Monday.

It was a career highlight for the team of Maureen Tamou, Jo Bloor, Faye Hopkins, Diana Rowe, Thelma Edgar, Betty Fraser and Patty Symes.

“We were on a very, very big high all the way to Hamilton,” team manager Kristin Stampa said.

However, their victory was overshadowed by thieves at a McDonald’s in the Hamilton suburb Frankton who broke into their van and stole all of the bowling bags, containing the champion bowls, she said.

“They were angry. It’s pretty bittersweet, it just marred everything for us,” she said.

“We were only in there 30 minutes.”

Stampa’s work laptop and cellphone were also taken.

Despite the distressing situation, they could still laugh about the situation to a point, Stampa said.

“We reckon they thought they were stealing luggage because who would take bowling bags?

“So we saw the funny side of it.”

Before heading into the fast-food outlet, Stampa said she had taken notice of the car which was pulled up beside the team van, which seemed to be leaving its motor running for an unusually long time despite the two male occupants not being in hurry to go anywhere.

Stampa said she thought she might not have locked the van properly and felt at fault for the theft.

However, when they were driving out of Hamilton a cold breeze led them to discover the culprits had removed a small triangle pane of glass in order to let themselves in, she said.

“The police woman, she asked what model the van was and I told her and she went, ‘oh, they’re really easy to break into’.”

Each bowl set would cost up to $800 to replace for the seven bowlers, and wet weather gear and bowling accessories worth hundreds of dollars were also stolen, Stampa said.

“But a person’s bowls, it’s like your jewellery – it’s special to you.

“It’ll often have a special emblem on it which identifies you. When they play a shot, you look at the bowl and then you look at the person because you know who it belongs to.

“Losing that, losing your bowls is just like chopping an arm off.”

The team was grateful no one was hurt in the process, but that didn’t mean they weren’t “brassed off” by the situation.

She was also confused at the items the thieves didn’t take, including a GPS unit and cellphone.

“The silly part is they took some food out of the chilly bin and not what had been sitting out above as well.”

That being said, it would take a lot to dampen their spirits following their national win, Stampa said.

Having scraped through in the first round and taking out Browns Bay, the tournament favourites, in the sudden death round, it was an impressive win for the team, she said.

“It was an awesome effort to do this against the big cities.”

Hamilton police had not been in contact with Stampa on Tuesday with an update, she said.

“But I know if there was an option between buying all new sets, or having their own gear back, I know which option they would choose – they’d want their old stuff back.”

stuff.co.nz/national/crime/78138291/hawera-womens-bowls-team-gets-their-championship-bowls-stolen

Hannah Lee

Cross Country Mixed Pairs Qualifying

Check out the results from today’s Cross Country Mixed Pairs. The results and draw for tomorrow’s play is under Centre Results.

40 teams have qualified for Post section at Hawera Park and Tower tomorrow. A successful day ran across 5 venues with 76 teams taking part. Thankfully it survived the predicted rain and fingers crossed for fine weather tomorrow.

Thanks to all the volunteers and clubs for hosting and good luck to those who have qualified.

Vospers Women’s Interclub Winners

Vospers Women’s Interclub finished today. After battling the weather it turned out to be Paritutu’s day, winning both Division 1 and 2.
Credit goes to West End who finished runner up in both divisions. We thank Mike Aro and Vospers Funeral Services for their continued support of Bowls Taranaki. We also would like to thank the players, supervisors, umpires and clubs for their efforts and patience getting through a couple of wet days and making Interclub this year a success.

For all Centre Results Click Here