With water-logged greens and more rain forecasted, the First Year singles has been cancelled for this weekend. The Taranaki Board will assess this situation at its next meeting and advise clubs of the outcome in due course.
Lawn Bowls
Rain has caused the postponement of the First year singles at Stratford-Avon today. Only one round has been manageable.
Players will report back to Stratford-Avon on Sunday, at 9am. The conditions of play will be released then.
Should the weather not be favourable, then an announcement will be made on here by 7.15am on Sunday.
The Revital Fertilisers Taranaki representative sides have been released for the upcoming senior Octagonal event in Palmerston North on February 11-13 and for the under-eights Hexagonal in Whanganui on February 12-13. The sides are:
Senior women: singles, Chris Commane; pairs, Briar Atkinson, Rhonda Adams; triples, Ella Smailes, Lesley Te Awa, Robyn Klenner; fours, Anne Brophy, Susan Cottam, Trish Howard, Kristin Stampa.
Senior men: singles, Dean Elgar; pairs, Darren Goodin, Scott Roberts; triples, Brendan Anderson, Aidan Zittersteijn, Hamish Kape; fours, Dave Wilson, Adam Collins, Steve Walker, Craig De Faria.
Under-eights women: singles, Tina Atkinson-Watt; pairs, Denielle Scown, Rita Davey; triples, Shelley Clark, Angie Debique, Tina Quilter; fours, Shelley Baldwin, Geneva Barnard, Judy Crawford, Amanda Crehan.
Under-eights men: singles, Nathan Goodin; pairs, Camron Horo, Hohepa Murray; triples, Mike Baldwin, Levi Davis, Bruce Colgan; fours, Steve Temperton, Mark Hawken, Kurt Smith, Paddy Deegan.
Just one more sleep until the 2022 Taranaki Open commences. A reminder to all players and spectators, vaccination passes are required to enter all clubs. Stay tuned for all the news and information as it becomes available.
Paritutu is back on top in Taranaki men’s interclub bowls.
It won the first division title at West End on Sunday in commanding fashion, claiming its seventh title in nine years in the TCB Dentures-sponsored event.
Paritutu powered away with eight wins and one draw – and that was well after the final result had been determined – from nine games. That carried Paritutu to 17 points, well clear of West End (10), Tower (4) and Inglewood (3).
Singles player Darren Goodin returned three-straight wins, although he had to go into overtime to edge Dean Elgar 21-18 in the opening round, after earlier leading 15-3.
John and Aidan Zittersteijn produced a profitable performance in the pairs, the father-and-son duo recording three convincing wins. Hamish Kape’s four of Don Christensen, Allan Batley and Adam Collins won their opening two games before settling for a draw in the last round.
Kape produced a brilliant shot late in the second game, trailing the jack for a seven, as his team came from behind to beat Steve Walker (West End) 21-17.
In the second division, an unbeaten opening two rounds was enough to see the Waitara side of Kevin Waters, Bill Rona, Kevin Kenny, Jeff Jane, Cliff Rona, Jimmy Haupapa, Grant McAuley and Trevor Zimmerman take out the title. Waitara finished with 12 points ahead of Paritutu (10), West End (9) and Manaia (3).
In the third division, Paritutu won with 25 points, with Tower, Lepperton and Waitara finishing second-equal on 22. The winning Paritutu team was Martin Jordan, Peter Vynk, Alex Riddock, Eddie Betts, Bill Mitchell, Steve Taylor, Trevor Johns and Trevor Keightley.
Meanwhile, in a dramatic conclusion, Opunake became the inaugural winners of the Bayleys Real Estate-sponsored junior interclub when it beat Lepperton 18-17 on an extra end in the final.
The Opunake side comprised Daryl MacKenzie, Julie Hemahema, Kewene Ratahi and Levi Davis, while the Lepperton team was Shelley Baldwin, Neil Sole, Fred Quilter and Tina Quilter.
As a result of the victory, Opunake became the first holders of the John Murtagh Trophy, named in recognition of the glorious contribution Murtagh has made to the sport as a New Zealand champion and representative and as a coach extraordinaire.
In a poignant moment, Davis, who has received tuition from Murtagh as a member of the Vic Balance development programme, calmly drew a toucher on the extra end to secure the title.
West End scored a double over the weekend when Susan Cottam and Trish Howard took out the Andersons Pies-sponsored women’s Taranaki open pairs at Tower on Sunday.
The duo defeated Opunake’s Rita Davey and Pauline Davy 21-18 in the final in blustery conditions.
After conceding two shots on the opening end, Opunake went on a scoring spree, winning the next five heads to lead 11-2.
But West End replied in kind and after the completion of the 11th end, the scores were locked at 11-all.
The game tensed up further and after 18 of the scheduled 21 ends, West End held a slender 16-15 advantage. But a three and a two to West End sewed up the contest, creating a six-shot lead playing the final end. Opunake replied with a three but it wasn’t enough.
It was Cottam’s third success in the event and her fourth Taranaki title in total, while it was a maiden success for Howard who has made great strides with her game over the past two seasons.
In the semifinals, Davey and Davy beat Paritutu’s Briar Atkinson and Tina Atkinson-Watt 24-21. Cottam and Howard needed a three on the last end to pip Fitzroy’s Faye Gecse and Maree Gadsby 19-18, after they had earlier trailed 13-4.
West End’s John Roberts and Craig De Faria have taken out the Auto City-sponsored Taranaki men’s Christmas pairs title.
The duo produced a strong finish over the closing ends of the final to deny a gallant Fitzroy duo of Jason Hazard and Grant Pease 20-16 on Saturday evening at Paritutu.
In a match that was close throughout, Hazard and Pease held a 16-12 lead with four of the 18 ends remaining.
De Faria converted the 15th head, taking out the two counting Fitzroy bowls to score a single. Roberts set up the next well with a front toucher. De Faria added three with more on a tightly-compacted head, with West End grabbing a five to take the lead.
Roberts set up the 17th end superbly, and while Pease reduced the count to just one, a three-shot difference on the last was always going to be tough.
Hazard gave Fitzroy every chance when he drew two close, but De Faria with his second bowl trailed the jack for shot, which sealed the result.
It was the 26th Taranaki title for both Roberts and De Faria.
In the earlier semifinals, Roberts and De Faria beat clubmates Bruce Hall and Dean Elgar 22-9, while Hazard and Pease were 18-8 victors over Paritutu’s Ian Andrews and Adam Collins.
Meanwhile, in the women’s Andersons Pies open pairs, the last four teams have been found. The final matches will be played on Sunday at Tower, with Opunake’s Rita Davey and Pauline Davy playing Paritutu’s Briar Atkinson and Tina Atkinson-Watt in one semifinal. The other semi is between West End’s Susan Cottam and Trish Howard against Faye Gecse and Maree Gadsby.
There is a big weekend of bowls coming up in Taranaki.
Auto City-sponsored Christmas pairs: The last 16 teams will play at Paritutu on Saturday, December 18, commencing at 8.30am. The intention is to play four rounds of 18 ends. To view the draw and results as they become available, go to: Men’s Christmas pairs results
Andersons Pies-sponsored women’s Open pairs: The pairs that qualified last Saturday will contest post section this weekend at Tower, commencing at 9am. Games remain of 21 ends duration. Three rounds will be played on Saturday, December 18, with the semi and final games on Sunday, December 19. To view the draw and results as they become available, go to: Women’s Open pairs results
TCB Dentures-sponsored men’s division one interclub (Bill Smee): The final will be played on West End No 1, commencing at 9am on Sunday, December 19. The competing clubs are Paritutu, West End, Inglewood and Tower. A scrambled draw is being used for the three rounds. Singles is 21 shots, pairs is 18 ends and fours is 15 ends. Players are not permitted to change disciplines during the day. To view the draw and results as they become available, go to: Division one results
TCB Dentures-sponsored men’s division two interclub: The final will be played on West End No 2, commencing at 9am on Sunday, December 19. The competing clubs are Paritutu, West End, Waitara and Manaia. A scrambled draw is being used for the three rounds. 2x4x2 pairs is 14 ends, 3-bowl pairs is 18 ends and fours is 15 ends. Players are not permitted to change disciplines during the day. To view the draw and results as they become available, go to: Division two results
TCB Dentures-sponsored men’s division three interclub: The final round will be played on Sunday, December 19, commencing at 9am. At West End No 3, Paritutu will play Fitzroy and Lepperton will play Waitara II, while at Tower, Tower will play Manaia. The trophy presentation is expected to occur just before 12 noon at West End. To view the draw and results as they become available, go to: Division three results
Bayleys Real Estate-sponsored optional junior interclub: The last round-robin games will be completed at West End, commencing at 9am, on Sunday, December 19. In the Black section, no games will be played, as Lepperton and Paritutu 3 have already qualified for the top four. In the Amber section, Opunake 1 are assured of qualifying, with two other matches on Sunday morning set to determine the last qualifier. Those games are: New Plymouth v Stratford-Avon 2, and Opunake 1 v Paritutu 2. The semifinal games are expected to commence at approximately 12 noon at West End on Sunday, with the final to follow. To view the draw and results as they become available, go to: Junior interclub results
Taranaki accommodation
Bowlers attending the Taranaki Open fours and New Zealand fours and mixed pairs
We are aware of some players experiencing difficulties in securing accommodation. Unfortunately, the market is tight because of both the increasing number of Air BnB properties (thereby denying the usual quantity of rented houses) and the clashing of other events in Taranaki.
Below are some options for accommodation:
The Flamingo Motel
355 Devon Street West, New Plymouth
Phone: Tony or Maree on 0508 352 646 or 06 758 8149.
Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS)
Hostel type accommodation
Rooms are available at the Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS), 4 Henwood Road, Bell Block. An entire wing of 2 bed rooms, with own shower fridge and TV is available for bowlers. Continental breakfast is included with a cost of $100 per room for two. They will look at providing an evening meal for a charge, but would need to know demand and numbers to do this. Please ensure that you advise you are bowlers.
Phone: 0800 100 331
Email: info@pihms.ac.nz
Quest Apartments
The Quest Apartments are also another option. They have availability and have said they will do a good rate for bowlers. The person who we have dealt with is Marryn Wallace, Duty Manager.
Quest New Plymouth
21 Currie Street, New Plymouth
T: +64 06 758 5483 M: +64 27 719 1014
Website: www.questnewplymouth.co.nz
A top class field has been assembled to battle out the Taranaki men’s bowls Christmas pairs title after the opening rounds at the weekend.
After 39 teams had qualified on Saturday, the wet weather saw a major overhaul to play on Sunday, with all the action held indoors at the Paritutu complex.
Multiple sessions were held and by the evening the field had been reduced to 16 sides – and what an impressive lineup it is, too.
It includes those traditionally dominant skips in Taranaki – Craig De Faria, Darren Goodin and Dean Elgar – along with other top-notchers such as Hamish Kape, Steve Walker and Scott Roberts, who are all current members of the Revital Fertilisers Taranaki representative team.
Roberts and Tower teammate Mark Kuklinski remain on track to defend the title they won 12 months ago. In their only post section game, they beat Inglewood’s Gerry O’Sullivan and Eric Foreman 17-11.
Taranaki president Ian Andrews also remains a chance. Leading for Adam Collins, the Paritutu duo scored a three on the final end to sneak past West End’s John Garrud and Dave Wilson 15-13 in one of the more impressive games.
Paritutu’s Allan Batley and Mike Walsh came from behind to deny Oakura’s Steve Muller and Pat Walklin 16-15. But two other Paritutu sides were not as fortunate.
John and Aidan Zittersteijn, the winners from three years ago, were defeated 15-12 by New Plymouth’s Peter Robertson and Warren Bellringer, while John and Steve Cottam lost a titanic struggle 17-16 to Inglewood’s Steve Sabine and Graham Reive.
Play continues this Saturday at Paritutu, with an 8.30am start.
The draw for the last 16 is: S Roberts (Tower) v R Gadsby (Fitzroy), M Walsh (Paritutu) v C De Faria (West End), G Murfitt (West End) v H Kape (Okato), D Elgar (West End) v G Reive (Inglewood), A Collins (Paritutu) v B Walton (Paritutu), W Bellringer (New Plymouth) v W Hawkes (Vogeltown), G Pease (Fitzroy) v S Walker (West End), N Earley (Inglewood) v D Goodin (Paritutu).
Meanwhile, the weather prevented any post section play in the women’s Andersons Pies-sponsored open pairs, which was scheduled for Tower on Sunday.
The 18 pairs that had qualified on Saturday will now compete at Tower this coming Saturday.
Among the big names through are the defending champions, Marlene Barrowman and Heather Johns (Paritutu). After drawing a bye, Barrowman and Johns will play Hawera Park’s Pauline Kennedy and Kristin Stampa in what shapes up as a mouth-watering contest.
In other bowls news, this Sunday, at West End, all of the TCB Dentures-sponsored men’s interclub finals will be played. That includes the first division for the Bill Smee Trophy, where Inglewood, West End, Paritutu and Tower will participate.