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18/05/07 - The Annual General Meeting attracted 96 members, the highest number recorded for a number of years. Uniquely, three of the positions available were contested but unfortunately four available positions failed to attract a single candidate. Secretary and Green Superintendent were two of the positions to remain vacant, while the meeting failed to find a Men's Match Convenor or a Catering Convenor.

The top position of President was contested between Sheena Davies and Ivan Hoare with Ivan securing the most votes. Likewise Lance Orsler and Graham Caie gained their respective positions over their opponents. The full list of Officers of the Club is recorded at 2007/8 Executive.

05/05/07 - Closing Day and Prize-giving with 68 players was a most enjoyable end to a successful season of bowls. The weather was nigh perfect and the green the same. With only one green available the A and B Triples teams hurriedly became Fours on the morning together with four teams of five members. The players, all there to enjoy the day were very accepting of the reorganized draw. Thank you to all from the organizers. The annual Women v Men competition was played out over three games with some very big wins, some very close wins, the usual losers and much good humour. The Women proved their equality, the games were drawn 12 all.

A finger food lunch provided by the players was of an exceptionally high standard with more than enough for afternoon tea as well. There was the usual band of willing, hard working folk in the kitchen. Their efforts were greatly appreciated. The formality of Prize Giving was a fitting end to the day. Our Life Members presented the trophies giving a short history of their origin. This was most interesting. Congratulations to Des and his Executive on the presentation organization. Mention must be made of the many hours spent by Anne McQuillan rounding up trophies, confirming winners and organizing the engraving. This was no small task and a job well done.

24/04/07 - The Women played their Vet Singles in perfect conditions. Beautiful Autumn weather and a superb green. The day finished with 6 two winners in some very closely contested matches played between some very experienced bowlers. Thank you ladies, congratulations to you all and special congratulations to our winners, Val Body first. Nan Pearse second, and Josephine Connolly was third.

13/04/07 - The inaugural Championship Mixed Fours was held over the two days 12 and 13 April. In damp. blustery and chilly weather twelve teams took to the greens on Wednesday to vie for the eight play-off teams. In an uncommon format, all qualifying teams played three games, winners playing winners and losers, losers after both the first and second rounds.

The finalists were evenly balanced apart from the "Pratt" factor. Over the last 3 or 4 ends Jim managed to draw and drive his way out of seemingly impossible situations to emerge the winners by three points. The winners of the "French Trophy" were Jim Pratt, Pierre Syben (Wally McClennan day two), June Gerrard and Kath Steiner, the Runners-up being Ken & Bev White, Josephine Connolly and Don Shand. Worthy of mention is the team of Lance & Shirley Frost, Jack Dobson and Ann Adams. In two days of play they lost only one game to collect a well-deserved third prize.

24/03/07 - Two of our members have regularly played in the BoP Junior Representative team over the past few years. Sue Pepper and Colin Wood were a part of the Men's and Women's Centre team that defended the Geddes Trophy, won by BoP for the first time last season. The event was staged over two days at Hamilton and a further day at Katikati, their opponents being Thames Valley, Waikato and Counties/Manakau. The team also participated in an event at Taupo, winning convincingly.

This is Colin's last year as a Junior, having represented BoP for the last three years. This season he has been lead for the Pairs as well as playing the Singles with an excellent success rate. Sue still has one year to go in junior ranks and has represented the Bay for three of the past four years. While proud of their team's winning ways, both of them have appreciated the chance to visit other centres, meet a host of other bowlers and to be part of the intense competition involved.

20/03/07 - The Women's Centre Triples is currently being held. Five Omanu teams have participated with mixed success. It will be very satisfying for the hastily arranged team of Karen Clarke, Merle Hoare & Gail Wood to be among the two Omanu qualifiers for this event despite losing their first game. The experienced team of Mary Hingston, Lynlie Edwards & Marion Ellis carried on to the last eight before a loss to a Matua team skipped by the impressive Dorothy McLean (Director of the runner-up team in the City Mixed). Well done to all participants.

17/03/07 - On a beautiful late Summer's day Omanu Bowling Club presented a great sight. With ninety six players and a host of spectators it was a pleasure to be at the Club. Unfortunately, our team of Jim Pratt, Gary Andrews, Charles Pettit and Larry Pepper failed to survive the second round. Both games could have gone either way, there only being the single shot in it, Jim must have worn himself out with his great win in yesterday's City Mixed. Despite their loss, no doubt Omanu was the winner on the day.

Three rounds were played today and the survivors will be back tomorrow. If you want to see some great bowls it will be well worth a visit.

16/03/07 - The Twenty Sixth Annual Tauranga City Mixed Tournament is being played this week at the Tauranga South, Tauranga RSA and at the Matua bowling Clubs. Entries this year are down by 20 teams to 64, a come down from the 196 teams the event used to be capped at. Although the weather was considerably better than that forecast, many of the games were played in less than ideal conditions with periodic heavy rain and strong winds.

Six Omanu teams were entered, included in them several out-of-town regulars. After the eight section games were completed, three of them had qualified with the required minimum five games. None of them were given the bye and Graham Caie's team, with Mary & Trevor Hingston and Marion Ellis lost a close-fought first-round game. Thursday morning and with only 16 teams remaining the next round found Jim Pratt, Lance Orsler, Lennie Simons (Tauranga South) & Josephine Connolly up against Bev & Ken White and Gary & Gloria Hamilton (Whangarei). The game was well won by Jim, but in the end there was only 2 points in it.

The team went on to beat a Mount team skipped by Maurice Hickey to progress to the semi-finals. Only two games were played on Thursday, the semis and finals being held over until Friday. The team continued it's winning ways, well beating a Havelock North combination and going on to victory in a strongly contested final against a Matua team skipped by David Bagge. The win was Jim Pratt's third win in this event in recent years.

A plate event was held among the first round losers. Graham Caie's team with Trevor and Mary Hingston and Marion Ellis had a comfortable win against a Tauranga South team. A fantastic achievement for Omanu to carry off two major prizes at this prestigious event, including the trophy.

10/03/07 - A valiant Omanu team were out gunned by a dominant Waikato at the Quadrangular Regional Finals held at Thames. Their disappointment was not so much at their results, but the lack of games. For whatever reason, the Thames team was not available creating a bye for every team Finally, knowing they could not catch up to Waikato, the Counties team defaulted their Fours game and left town. To cap it off, no official umpire was provided, one of the Omanu players, an umpire, was called upon to measure during her bye.

In their only game, the Fours team (Bev White, Lynlie Edwards, Joan Fuller and Judy Smallbone) got away to a slow start. Frequently they held shot only to have it taken away. They were catching up but not quickly enough. Singles player Mary Hingston had a win against Counties and only lost against Waikato on a measure. The Pairs, Josephine Connolly and Mary Conroy were playing great bowls but failed to win, again with a single shot loss.

Thanks ladies, Omanu is proud of you.

7/03/07 - Three out of four Mount Maunganui teams featured in the prizes at the RSA national Championships held in Tauranga over the past three days. The team of Ken White, Trevor Shaw & Amy Shaw won six from six to qualify in the A Section. They lost their first sudden-death game on an extra end to go into the Plate event. They then progressed to the final, only losing that on the last end.

The Omanu team skipped by Ivan Hoare with Rex Poingdestre and Fred Osborne won the prize for the D Flight. The other successful team was a Mount Maunganui combination skipped by Noel Wilson, victors in the B Flight.

4/03/07 - On a drizzly Sunday morning, semi-finalists Gary Andrews & Larry Pepper overcame a huge deficit to come back against perennial winners Jim Pratt & Pierre Syben. They had previously lost their first life to 'oldies' Keith O'Connor & Stuart Pemberton. Lance Orsler & John Jennings were the other finalists. The game was a tight affair, the lead changing several times during the course of the game. Andrews held the upper hand throughout much of the latter stages but Orsler though had the last say, a three on the final end giving him the win.

2/03/07 - Founder's Day was held on Friday 2 March and was celebrated as the Club's Birthday. The many participants enjoyed a barbecue lunch and afternoon tea supplied by the Club. With Happy Hour prices afterwards, a great time was had by all.

20/02/07 - Our Women's Champ Fours Team got away to a good start in the Champ of Champ event just held at Katikati. They met three Rotorua teams on day one beating both Rotorua Women's and Arawa but going down narrowly to Ngongtaha. The team of Bev White (Skip) with Josephine Connolly, Karen Clarke & Sue Pepper met and convincingly beat Matua in their first game on day two before losing out to Rotorua East in a commendable performance.

Some of the team will be going on to Thames as Premier Two Division Winners on 10th March. Why not pay a visit to Thames and give them some support?

18/02/07 - The Men's Handicap Pairs were played over the weekend 17/18 February in some of our best Summer weather. The semi-finals were close fought battles Jim Pratt & Colin Wood prevailing over Gary Andrews & Larry Pepper. The other semi-final was notable for the strong run of two leads, David Thompson & Ray Bailey who finally succumbed to Graham Caie & Winston Davey. After trailing all the way through the final, Jim Pratt's team scored a three on the last end to come out on top.

Probably the most impressive aspect of the weekend's play was the quality of the lead bowls played. The axiom that pairs is a lead's game was well demonstrated.

09/02/07 - The Women's Pairs Champion Skip from last year, Mary Hingston, retained her title in the final played today. The event attracted 18 entries, several of the teams being combinations of Leads or Leads and Twos. The confidence these teams showed, together with their very high standard of bowls is exciting for the future of our club and worthy of commendation. The skip of the Runner up team was a lead.

Some very tight games were played over the three days, it is always a shame there has to be only one winner. The win was certainly well deserved and the final a closely fought contest. Mary Hingston and her lead, June Gerrard, held on to their two lives playing Pauline Bailey with one life. The game was a thriller but it was a five early in the piece that sealed it. Pauline Bailey and Mary Conroy (who was Mary Hingston's lead in last season's Championship win) came within two shots of regaining the initiative. Even so, the game needed to be won by Mary Hingston's last bowl, Pauline holding four shots for the win.

Josephine Connolly, already current holder of the Fours, Triples and Singles had the the misfortune to lose her skip, Bev White, to a back injury. With replacement Betty Dixon she made the semi finals before losing out to the eventual winner.

Congratulations to you all and thank you for the very entertaining and excellent bowls. Just a thought though, why does Omanu have only one team in the Centre Pairs with such obvious talent around? Maybe we should set our sights higher!

20/01/07 - Intended to be played last week, the long-delayed Men's Championship Fours was concluded today. It was played between Jim Pratt, Gary Andrews, Charles Pettit & Larry Pepper against the team skipped by President Des French with Don Shearer, Mike Molen & Barry Liddell. Jim's team were away to a good start and were never headed. Congratulations Jim, once more on the Honours Board, and to your team.

19/01/07 - In spite of the weather on day one, the Women's Championship Fours was decided on the third day. On Thursday, Bev White, teamed with Josephine Connolly, Karen Clarke and Sue Pepper took the first life from the team of Betty Dixon, Amy Shaw, Jean Browne and Merle Hoare. On Friday morning, the two-lifers were given a lesson by the determined one-lifers to set up a great final. The Dixon team were again the early leaders holding a lead of 10/6 after eleven ends. The next three ends proved decisive after Betty's run shot pushed the kitty the wrong way conceding a four, followed by a single and a five. A great final watched by an enthralled audience.

16/01/07 - Even as I write, the "Weather" is continuing to disrupt all club events. Today, Tuesday, is the first day of the Women's Fours as the rain continues to tumble. The final of the Men's Fours between the teams skipped by Des French and evergreen Jim Pratt and scheduled for last Sunday was also lost to rain. The two day 2 x 4 x 2 Men's Pairs Tournament last week had to be re-scheduled and put back a day. Even then it was curtailed by adverse weather on the final day. When will it end?

06/01/07 - A new event, the "Lifestyle Villages" tournament was held at Tauranga South on Saturday. It was organised by Noel and Margaret Adams who live in the Bethlehem Retirement Village. Twenty teams representing a half dozen local villages were there for the inaugural event which was won by an Ocean Shores Village team. The team consisted of three Omanu players, Ken & Bev White and Val Coxhead and also included a cousin of Vals' visiting from Wanganui, Noel Giles.

06/01/07 - A new event, the "Lifestyle Villages" tournament was held at Tauranga South on Saturday. It was organised by Noel and Margaret Adams who live in the Bethlehem Retirement Village. Twenty teams representing a half dozen local villages were there for the inaugural event which was won by an Ocean Shores Village team. The team consisted of three Omanu players, Ken & Bev White and Val Coxhead and also included a cousin of Vals visiting from Wanganui, Noel Giles.

17/12/06 - The Club held it's second Christmas Hams Tournament today in very pleasant weather conditions and on excellent greens which drew compliments from all who played on them. Like last year, the major prizes were won by visitors, but local teams also finished strongly.

24 teams competed and First and Second prizes were won by teams skipped by Hugh Jorgensen, and Peter Clarke. Third prize winners were Leo Edwards. Keith O'Connor, Charles Pettit and Don Shand, Fourth prize winners were Bill Buchanan, George Teiho, Ron Browne and Jim Reid while Fifth Prize went to Jim McQuillan, Des French, Mike Molen and Barrie Liddell. The 8 Point Triples, also a Hams Tournament, is due to be played on Tuesday. Thursday has been designated a Reserve Day for the event.

14/12/06 - Maggie Hay reports;
As a member of the Waikato, BoP Blind Lawn Bowlers Association I went to the Nationals which were held in Gisborne from 27-30 November. There are three categories of players with varying degrees of visual impairment. They are;
B1;  Totally blind.
B2;  Some vision
B3;  A little more sight.

I am B3.  Each player is required to have an assessment by an eye specialist before playing and is entitled to have a director. Use of binoculars is not encouraged, but can be used when not in possession of the rink. There were two days of singles and two of pairs.

I played seven games of singles and won three, playing in a strong wind. My partner in the pairs was the runner-up in the singles. Together we won seven of the eight games and came second.

A Trans-Tasman Tournament will be held in Auckland in 2007.

Omanu's Baywide Premier Division Winners at Rotorua

10/12/06 - The contortions that the Bay of Plenty Centre are going through to finalise the Baywide Women's Premier Division defy belief.
* Games thought completed because of 'rain rules' are still to be played
* Conditions of Play as stated in the event booklet have been over-ridden or ignored.
* Scheduled Reserve Day for the event was not used
* Our team has been given 36 hours notice to meet Ohope at Whakatane to finish the (already completed) games (They were originally asked to meet them on Ohope's own artificial greens)

If this event is to take place next season the centre will need to convince a lot of disgruntled BoP bowlers, men and women, that they are capable of running it.

10/12/06 - In spite of all the kerfuffle, our Women's Premier Division team came out winners in the end. Forced to go to Whakatane this Sunday morning to complete the games, our Singles player, Mary Hingston, went on to win 21 to 11. The fours team, Bev White, Lynlie Edwards, Joan Fuller, and Judy Smallbone finished with a 12 to 7 victory. Audrey Wills was unavailable on the day but her Pairs partner, Mary Conroy was in Whakatane to support the team. It is thought that the Pairs will not now be required to complete their game.

A great win, ladies, and another feather in the cap for Omanu.

10/12/06 - The Club's Annual Christmas Party was held Sunday evening attended by 40/50 members and partners. There was a Happy Hour from 5.00 p.m. followed by a magnificent pot luck dinner. Thanks go to the usual band of stalwarts in the kitchen in support of our convenor Jeannette. Judy manned the bar and Keith the piano for a final sing-song. Some folks actually had a dance. One person said the highlight of the evening was Jim's singing - the other forty something refrained from comment!

9/12/06 - The final of the Men's Club Championship Singles was played on Saturday between Gary Andrews and Wally McClennan. Wally got away to a good start before Gary hit his straps to come back strongly. The early momentum proved decisive in the end with Wally coming out the winner. Wally played great bowls throughout the event and was a worthy Champion.

05/12/06 - The Men's Monday Inter-club Fours is now completed. In some excellent bowling news for all Omanu members, on Monday, 4 December, the final was played at Matua between Section A winners, Tauranga South Blue & Section B winners, Omanu 2. The Omanu side won the cup by two games to one. Congratulations to selector, Wally McClennan for his selections & on the results obtained this year. Many thanks too, to the players who made themselves available. We look forward to the Monday Triples next year starting on 15 January. (Jim really hopes he will be selected.)

29/11/06 - The Women's Championship Singles this year was won by Josephine Connolly. Our Club's newest member, Karen Clarke, a recent arrival from Auckland was Runner-up.

This was a highly competitive, hard fought event in rather windy conditions. The 14 entrants were reduced to 4 by Round 5 with two two-lifers and two one-lifers. The two-lifers, Josephine Connolly and Mary Conroy played two consecutive games winning one each. Josephine had the bye in Round 7, Karen Clarke beat Mary Conroy. Josephine and Karen played a great final entertaining a large group of our members. Going into the last end Josephine led 19 points to 17 and scored 3 with a result she must be very proud of. Congratulations to both, and to all who played. And Karen, "Welcome to the Club".

21/11/06 - A Women's Junior Singles Champion has been found after two days and seven hard games. The 'girls' (as they are improperly known by those who have played more than five years) came off a tough weekend of Baywide play. Nine Juniors competed with Kath Steiner the only Two Lifer after 4 rounds. Sue Pepper beat Kath in round 5, Kath having beaten Sue in Round 2. Kath beat Teresa Bones in Round 6 having been 11 to 1 down after the fifth end. She then met Sue again in the final. Their three games were all cliff hangers right to the end.

Lynlie Edwards reports, "It has been a privilege this week to watch our Junior Women playing their Championship Singles. The standard of bowls was high, the sportsmanship superb and the pleasure these players displayed in their camaraderie with each other, both on and off the green, is an example to all of us. Sue Pepper is our Junior Singles Champion player with Kath Steiner Runner Up.  Congratulations to all participants".

19/11/06 - After surviving yesterday's Rotorua wet, the "Princesses of Te Puke", the Omanu 1 Development team went to Te Puke today and had to win all their games to take the crown. They needed the assistance of Omanu 2 who drew with Mt Maunganui making their task easier. The 102 plus differential points gave them the edge over the opposition, Mt Maunganui who were second and Arawa third. The team was Triples; Josephine Connolly Skip, Merle Hoare and Ann Harold and the Pairs; Sue Pepper, Skip with Margot Siddell/June Gerrard.

Omanu 2 came a creditable fourth and came to the assistance of their team-mates in the final games. Their team was Triples; Sheena Davies, Skip and Margaret Bromell/Kath Steiner and Gail Wood. The Pairs; Bev Murdoch and Pauline Bailey.

The Successful Omanu 1 Development Team.

18/11/06 - On another wet and miserable Rotorua day, the "Queens of the Greens", also known as the Omanu Premier Division Baywide team, came closer to clinching victory. After last week they were 6 points ahead of the bunch and held a major differential advantage. They played the first round through a steady drizzle winning two of the three games and improving their differential by a further fourteen points. Their closest rivals, Taupo, also won two maintaining the gap. In deteriorating weather, the second and final round was started and after the requisite number of ends "to constitute a game in the event of rain" they were drawing one game and ahead in both others. The game was abandoned at that point with no decision having been made as to whether the event is concluded, or the games must be completed. Watch this space for further news as the saga of indecision continues.

The team is Singles; Mary Hingston, Pairs; Audrey Wills and Mary Conroy, Fours; Bev White, Lynlie Edwards, Joan Fuller and Judy Smallbone. There are further Baywide games to be completed this weekend but no results to hand yet.

11/11/06 - The Men's Development Team, formerly known as the Academy boys, proved too tough for the rest of the Bay of Plenty on the last weekend of the Baywide event. Before the day's play started, they were already too far ahead to be overtaken. They completed the route with a clean sweep on the final day. Overall, they amassed 38 points, with a plus differential of 198. The Triples team of Gary Andrews, John Jennings and Tony Mountfort lost only one game, winning a record ten games from eleven. The Pairs team of Ron Parton and Winston Davey were equally impressive with nine wins from eleven games. Congratulations to all players.

Results have not all come in yet but we are aware that the Men's Premier Division teams have not fared particularly well. The Women though are leading their section by six points with only two rounds to go. Good luck to them in their games on Saturday 18 November.

7/11/06 - Some sixty club members attended the Melbourne Cup fun day. Three games were played - two of one hour and a shorter third game to ensure they were finished prior to the big race. It was hoped to have sufficient players to play triples, but unfortunately we did have to play some pairs. This proved to be not totally successful, but it was a fun day and a bit of tolerance and humour goes a long way on such occasions. Eight sweepstakes were organized by Irene Brown and Val Coxhead and a wonderful range of snacks, sandwiches etc were organized by Sheena Davey and prepared by the Ladies Match Committee. Many of the ladies wore a special hat and the club house looked very festive. A happy hour was much enjoyed and a very convivial atmosphere prevailed which was very rewarding. Vice President Ivan Hoare thanked the match committee for their efforts.

5/11/06 - The lesson from the Western Bay Pennants mess has not been picked up on by whoever is responsible for running the Baywide event. The players object to being messed about as they were at Arawa, and no doubt other venues, today. Last weekend's sixth round was incomplete;
 * Some games completed
 * Some games not started
 * Some games with a few ends complete
 * Some games completed under the "x number of ends constitutes a game" rule.

The decision was made to play all these games first, resurrecting those last games thought to be completed. Other players had to hang about for up to two hours before these games were all finished. The problem was compounded at the end of the day when the Singles were sent out to play the third round of the day, the rest told to go home. Not very practical really since the Singles player was dependent on the rest of his team for transport! Strangely, these decisions were made without the knowledge or participation of members of the Centre Match Committee.

5/11/06 - With still one further round to go the Omanu Development Team have all but sewn up victory in their section of the Baywide. With a further round of five games out of six they hold a solid lead and a massive differential. Our Junior team, their Pennants now completed, finished a creditable second behind Mount Maunganui, behind them by just one point. The Pairs combination of Colin Wood (S) & Don Shand performed faultlessly winning all 9 games. The Women's Premier Two team has a record of 11 wins from 15 games and are current leaders of their division. Both development teams had another good day, each winning five from six games. Not all results are available to me, let you know when I hear them.

1/11/06 - Belatedly we have news and a picture of the Handicap Singles Finalists. The winner was Judy Smallbone who beat Pauline Bailey in the final. Well done to both.

31/10/06 - The Women's Handicap Pairs, played as a one-day tournament was completed today. With only two four-winners, first place went to Bev White (S) with June Gerrard on 29 ends over Mavis Cotter (S) and Kath Steiner with 20 ends. Nice to have a rain-free day, though it was rather cool.

29/10/06 - The Baywide Interclub was played this weekend through deteriorating weather conditions. Saturday was not too bad but most venues were left with incomplete programs. In the Men's Premier A & B Divisions Omanu teams were firmly lodged in the lower half of the fields. The Development and Junior teams were much more successful, the Development team winning 5 from 6 games each day to be in a great position to win their section. They have 20 points and a +100 differential. The Junior Pairs team of Colin Wood & Don Shand won all 5 games and the Juniors remain in strong contention overall.

The Baywide Women's Section did not commence until Sunday. Conditions for the Premier Division at Arawa were described as "shocking". The games were abandoned in the early afternoon after most of the second round was completed, in other games the last few ends will be played before the start of Day Two. The Fours team won 1 from 2, The Singles 2 from 2 and the Pairs won the only game they completed. In the Development division it was unfortunate that Omanu 1 had to play Omanu 2 in the first game with Omanu 1 the stronger team. Omanu 1 finished with 4 from 6 games played. Omanu 2 ended with 1 win and a draw from 6 games played. They had to put up with poor conditions but while it rained all day, the greens were not so bad as those at Rotorua.

24/10/06 - The Francis Cup has been recovered by Omanu two years after it was last held. A team skipped by Ron Parton, with Noel McLeod, Trevor Hingston and Colin Wood came away with the victory on a wet and windy Labour Weekend. In the final they defeated a team skipped by Hugh Jorgesen which was substantially the one who were runners-up last year. Well done to all those team members. Two years ago a Lance Orsler skipped team claimed a win in the same event. Twice in two years - not bad going Omanu!

20/10/06 - The Dorchester 8 Point Triples held today has to be considered a success with so many participants. The weather improved steadily thoughout the day and we finished in glorious sunshine. Thanks to Graham Caie and Marion Ellis who spent the day selling raffes and preparing the barbecue - you did a great job! It has to be of concern though that we are still playing with scrims. I hear, on the unofficial grapevine, that we are using them to protect the greens from the Club's dumpers. Doesn't that seem back to front, shouldn't we be educating the dumpers?

15/10/06 - The Men's Singles played on Saturday and Sunday were a breeze - or more precisely, a howling gale. After five rounds the event was left with six participants. Wally McClellan was the sole surviving two-lifer playing his first victim, Gary Andrews. Gary was able to extract his revenge on their second meeting. In the other quarter finals, Trevor Hinston came out the winner over Trevor Shaw while Colin Sutherland overcame Bill Buchanan. In the semi-finals, Gary and Wally beat their opponents to set up their third meeting in the final, at a date yet to be arranged.

8/10/06 - The Men's Triples Champs this season were last year's runners-up Lance Orsler, Director John Francis & Lead George Hollingworth. The event entered it's third day on Sunday with three one-lifers only left in the contest. Again, the windy conditions made bowling quite difficult. In the resulting semi-final Ron Parton, Noel McLeod and Terry Youngman proved too strong for last years winners, Ken White, Jim McQuillan and Charles Pettit, before going down in the final.

6/10/06. - The Women's Triples Champs were completed on Friday afternoon after three gruelling days in the wind. A re-arranged team skipped by last year's runner-up Bev White playing with Josephine Connolly and Sue Pepper eventually triumphed. To get there though they had to defeat last year's winning team skipped by Mary Hingston, with Lynlie Edwards & Marion Ellis twice. As well, they had to come back from a heavy defeat in the possible final to the eventual runners-up Joan Owen, Margaret Dalley and Ann Adams. Although the wind made bowling conditions extremely difficult, at least progress in this, the first of the Championships, was not rain delayed as so many events were last season. In line with the new policy, the trophy was presented at the end of the event.

24/09/06 - Western Bay Pennants Shambles. A badly designed playing schedule, together with some major administrative hiccups caused players to walk off in protest during the second day's play. In the Reserve Division, in which Omanu participated, players in each of the sections were faced with playing again the identical teams they had played on the previous day. After playing two games it all seemed such a waste of time that the players unanimously agreed to pack up and go home. Ridiculously, the two sections were playing on adjoining greens. It would not have taken a rocket scientist to devise a draw capable of finding a clear winner.

The weekend started badly to the extent that no playing schedules were forwarded to the teams, "you'll find out who you play when you get there" was the story. As a result it is understood that one team arrived on Saturday to find that they were not even in the draw. An Omanu team arrived in Tauranga South and played their trial ends before being told they were surplus to requirements. A poor show all round.

The Omanu team emerged as winner of the Division as it happens with a very creditable performance winning it's own section clearly. The Division winner was found by comparing wins and points scored against the winners of the other section, a most unsatisfactory solution which took much of the gloss from the win. A full report on the results of all teams will be published shortly.

In a dramatic turnaround it seems that Omanu may not have been the victor during the Pennants weekend! Team Manager Jim Pratt, unable to reconcile the team score, was in touch with the host club, Tauranga South. It seems likely that a recording error was made which may give the final result to Tauranga South. I guess we always knew it was not going to be a memorable weekend!

7/10/06. In yet one more twist to the tale, the Official Results of the Men's Pennants now tell us that Omanu won Section A of the Reserve Division with 24 points - and that Tauranga South won Section B with 23 points. So, perhaps we did win after all. Is this the end of the saga, or will the win be snatched from us again? I guess we will know when they hand our the prizes. In other results, Omanu come third in Section B of the the Open Division and fifth in Section A of the Fours Division. The Academy Team were fourth while the Juniors finished a creditable third. Well done to all participants.

09/09/06 - Opening Day. More than 50 supportive members braved the elements on a wet windy Opening Day at Omanu. The greens were awash! President Des was absent due to a family bereavement but Jeanette kept the flag flying in her department. Vice President Ivan Hoare again handled proceedings with some style and humour - well done Ivan! What can one do on such a wet day? Well, after time to chat about "where did you go?" and "did you buy those flash new coloured bowls?" etc.

We settled down to listen to Life Members Val, Maurie & Jim reminiscing about the club's early years. Each was interesting to hear. Equally, each stressed the importance of volunteers in the club. Ivan spoke of two vacancies to fill before he warmly thanked a number of current club volunteers. The Life Members rolled the traditional jack and bowl (albeit on the carpet). Best of all - the afternoon tea was right up to Omanu standards! Thank you ladies, we enjoyed it all very much. As Ivan said, "Let's get into a very good season!"

Worth a mention is the win by Leo and Lynley Edwards and Jim and Adrienne Lambert in the RSL/Swan Clubs' Australia/ New Zealand day. The event is a regular feature each Winter at Maroochydore on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The day they got to meet Royalty! This photo is courtesy of Barry Sullivan (ex-Wanganui), Manager of the RSL/Swan Bowls Club.

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