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03/05/09 - Two full greens of bowlers attended the Honours Day mini tournament and a much greater number were present for the presentations. The Rotorua gardens is a great setting and the Rotorua Club looked after their visitors as well as ever. Sponsors of the event, the Southern Cross Building Society, represented by Mandy Airlie, put on a magnificent afternoon tea enjoyed by players and visitors alike.

A number of Omanu members, complimented by the M.C. for their 'colour co-ordination', applauded vigorously each time their club was honoured. Firstly for the Baywide Interclub Women's Development Team for their win, next for Pat Andrews, Runner-up in the Centre Champ of Champ Junior Singles. Finally, Bev White and Josephine Connolly received a great accolade for their part in claiming the Women's National Fours title. A further source of pride was the nomination of Josephine for 'Player of the Year'. With seven other outstanding nominees it was tough going, the title going to Iain Dalton of the Tauranga South Club.

02/05/09 - Some 30 members braved a cool and drizzly morning to participate in the Closing day roll-up. Some further 25 arrived at mid-day, where they were all cheered considerably by a magnificent finger food lunch with a hot cuppa. Prizgiving followed and forty-something trophies and runner-up certificates were presented. A social hour afterwards was well attended

18/04/09 - In the final day of the Champ of Champ Triples, Jim Pratt, Gary Andrews and Larry Pepper had a good game at Ngongotaha against Tauranga South (Peter Clark, Malcolm Kidd and Robbie Frelan). They were leading 7 to 4 after eight ends but Peter pulled off some great shots to win 14 to 9. Every end was well contested and the Maniototo surface was a joy to play on. (Report by the man on the spot - Gary)

05/04/09 - The Jack & Jill Mixed Pairs started on Friday. It was run as a tournament with the eight top teams going on to a knock-out Champion Mixed Pairs event on Sunday. Winners on the day to take Brian & Mavis Cotter's Jack and Jill trophy were Lynlie Edwards and David Thompson. On Sunday, the winners of the Championship final were Lance Orsler and Josephine Connolly over Gary & Pat Andrews.

31/03/09 - Day two of the Women's Handicap Singles, down to the last four, saw Pat Andrews and Josephine Connolly go down in the first round of the day. The final, between Pauline Bailey amd Judy Smallbone, was a very tight affair being all square going into the last end. Judy broke the deadlock to take the title.

29/03/09 - Our two Singles Champions contested the Champ of Champ event at Rotorua over the past weekend. Josephine Connolly, playing at Ngongotaha, won the first game losing the second to Gate Pa's Kath Fisher. She won the third before facing the tough Ngongotaha representative Mina Paul who came from behind for the win. Ron Parton, playing at Arawa, started well with two wins He then lost two in a row to lose both lives on the first day.

27/03/09 - Only a disappointing eight teams contested the club's Champion Mixed Fours making day one merely a 'seeding' contest. In an interesting format each team gets three games, the first round losers joining the Plate, second round losers two Consolations. Winner of the championship was Jim Pratt, Pierre Syben, Joy Inch & June Gerrard, Runner-up Graham Caie, John Jennings, Marion Caie & Gwen Jennings. The Plate event was won by Judy Smallbone, Alec Horsburgh, Jack Dobson & Pat Couchman over Des & Jeanette French and Bev & Garth Murdoch. The other two-winner was Ken White, Josephine Connolly, Margaret Bromell & Don Shand.

This time of year is certainly the best bowling weather, the sun was shining and the greens playing well. A pity then that more of our our members could not enjoy the occasion. Boosting attendance has to on top of our agenda for next season and everyone should contribute to the debate.

17/03/09 - The Women's Centre Triples has been held at Ohope this week with teams from that club enjoying their pacy greens. Two Omanu teams took part, both qualifying, with the team of Mary Hingston, Marion Caie and Pat Andrews going out in an early round. Bev White, Josephine Connolly and Sue Pepper stayed til the semis, losing to a Matua team, but well pleased with their third equal placing. The final has yet to be decided.

12/03/09 - Seven Omanu teams contested the annual Tauranga City Mixed tournament held over four days. In a strong showing, five of them qualified for the top section of twenty eight teams where the going was tough The winner was the Composite team skipped by Hugh Jorgensen, the Settles from Hinuera coming second. I was pleased to see Charles Pettit, John Francis, Lynlie Edwards and Mary Conroy take out the third prize

08/03/09 - Lynlie Edwards and her team put in a very creditable performance to come fifth equal at the BoP Women's Open Fours held at Rotorua last week. To get through to the last eight they had to overcome some stiff opposition. In the team with Lynlie were Mary Conroy, Margaret Bromell and Pat Couchman. Tow other Omanu teams were in the event, including the Leads and Twos team of Pauline Bailey, Bev Murdoch, June Gerrard and Kath Steiner who were third in the Consolation Tournament.

08/03/09 - Our Men's and Women's Triples teams took on the rest of the BoP champions this weekend, both surviving three Saturday games. The men also survived the lightening strike at Tauranga South which took out the nearby electricity transformer. Both teams played their Sunday games at Gate Pa reaching the last five by the third game. The men (Jim Pratt, Gary Andrews and Larry Pepper) then got the bye and will return to the contest at a later date. Our ladies (Bev White, Josephine Connolly and Sue Pepper) struck the extremely strong Ngongotaha team - they will not fight another day in this event.

03/03/09 - Seventy four teams from all around the country contested the RSA National Bowls Champs held at three Mt Maunganui and two Omanu greens over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. All of the participants were appreciative of the quality of the organisation, the greens and the many volunteers who made the event such a success. During the period over 400 games have been played, Omanu served around three hundred hot meals and the Mount five hundred. Veteran bowler Phil Skoglund was one of the many who came - from Kaitaia in the North to Gore in the South.

At the end of day two the top sixteen teams went into the Championship Division to compete on a knock-out basis. The rest of the teams went into four flights of tournament play. Mt Maunganui teams were well represented in the prize money though the Championship went to a Composite RSA team in which our own Winston Davey was the lead. Runner-up, the team that travelled the furthest, was Gore. The prize giving was held Wednesday evening at the Mt Maunganui RSA.

27/02/08 - Founder's Day was held on a cooler but very pleasant day for bowling. Highlight was the gift to the club of Dal Knuckey's original Omanu blazer by her daughter Meridee Keig. In her letter Meridee spoke of her father's pride in the club's Nationals success. One proposal is that the jacket be framed as a permanent tribute to the Club's founders.

Fifty members played a progressive event, sixteen of them them taking out a prize. Each brought a plate to contribute to a 'pot-luck' finger food lunch - it was apparent that no one went away hungry! The day was sponsored by Vision Papamoa and the Village's manager, Judi Higginson, enjoyed the lunch she shared with us.

19/02/08 - In the Women's Champ Singles, day two dawned with five players left, Judy Smallbone, the sole two-lifer having the bye. Bev White, having lost her first life to Judy, came home after another battle against Mary Hingston. Josephine Connolly, her first life went to Bev, played and beat her Fours team mate Karen Clarke. Only three left now, Josephine to get the bye and Bev to face Judy again.

Once more the game was hard fought, after being down, Judy came back to 19 all before picking up a two to retain her lives intact. Playing Josephine proved tough as Judy slumped to 13 nil down. Once more she retaliated and a well-drawn four gave her hope as she moved up to seven points. It was not enough as Josephine cruised to a win forcing one more game. On top of her game now, Josephine's draw bowling was relentless and Judy, obviously feeling the strain of three tough games was no match. The Singles win gave Josephine her fourth Championship of the season. The thirty or so onlookers were treated to a feast of bowls.

15/02/08 - The good times continued to roll for Omanu this weekend when Pat Andrews contested the Champ of Champ Junior Singles at Arawa. On day one she had the first bye before losing her first game and winning the following two. On Sunday she won her first three games to take her to the final against a fourth-year player, Zena McClelland of Rotorua West. She lost the final but it was a brave effort and with three more Junior years there are better things to come.

15/02/08 - Men's Champ Singles. Of the two last two-lifers, Lance Orsler and Jim Whitelock, only Lance made the last four in this tight contest. In the semi-finals he lost to Ron Parton while Jim Pratt prevailed over Graham Caie. The final between Jim and Ron was close initially but Ron Parton drew away to win.

08/02/08 - Ten teams contested the Men's Fours and after day one just two two-lifers and three one-lifers remained. The teams skipped by Jim Pratt, Graham Caie and Keith O'Connor were eliminated in the first two rounds leaving Lance Orsler with Ron Parton, Colin Wood & Don Shand, and Des French with Ron Browne, Walter Riddell & Fred Clarke to fight out the final. Lance won the game taking the championship with both lives intact.

07/02/09 - Those who regularly follow the web site may have noticed a few changes, even some 'odd events' over the past few weeks. The site has undergone not just a face-lift but major surgery going back some two months. Hopefully it has a cleaner, less cluttered appearance now, though most of the changes are 'under the bonnet'.

The main reason for the change is to make the coding of the pages conform to 'web standards'. The times they are a-changing, and what has worked for the past ten years - and still does - may not do so in five years time. This has involved a re-learning on my part and a re-coding of all twenty pages. Very much two steps forward and one step, occasionally three steps, back. Last week disaster struck and for a couple of days links to some of the pages were unavailable. Thanks to my early elimination from the Fours Champs, I had time to repair the damage and the site is now good for a few more years. Well past my tenure as Webmaster anyway.

01/02/08 - Omanu hosted one section in the Women's Centre Singles held this weekend. It was played in very hot weather and plenty of water was drunk over the course of the day. The club was complemented on the quality of marking by the six senior players who volunteered their services. While not qualifying, the two Omanu players present, Pat Andrews and Mary Hingston, did well to win two games from four.

Two other Omanu members entered the competition, Karen Clarke did not qualify but Josephine Connolly progressed to the next day, played at the Mount. She won her first game but went down in the quarter final. The eventual winner was Marylin McLeod over Ann Lomas, both of Tauranga South

30/01/08 - Fourteen teams started in the Women's Champ Pairs last Thursday, 22 January. At the end of the day they were reduced to two two-lifers and five one-lifers. Play continued yesterday the 29th, when the field was reduced to three one-lifers.

With a bye in place, Mary Hingston & Marion Caie faced Bev White & Josephine Connolly for the third time after one win apiece, this time it proved to be Bev's turn. In the final, Margaret Bromell & Mary Conroy played good bowls to catch up on an early eight point deficit, levelling at eleven all on the eleventh end. Successive dropped fours on the two subsequent ends proved fatal to their cause and Bev's team came home with an end to spare.

25/01/08 - Over seventy club members were present today at a finger-food luncheon in honour of our National Fours Champions, Bev White and Josephine Connolly. It was specially pleasing to see so many who, for reasons of health or indisposition, have not been on the greens for a while. Present also at the function with Josephine and Ray were a daughter and five grandchildren, three of those visiting from Chile.

President Colin Wood spoke of the pride that Omanu has in the achievement of these two which is shared by all club members. Bev and Josephine both replied, thanking the club and speaking of some of the moments during the event. They reciprocated their pride in being part of the Omanu club with it's friendly atmosphere and no shortage of competitive bowlers. Members were urged to "be in to win", they are all capable of winning at higher levels. They talked of their theme song that lifted them when the going got tough, "I feel good." Ray Connolly presented a photograph of the winning four along with their trophy to Colin, on behalf of the two families.
It is a real pleasure to report that, later this same day, the other team members, Richmond's Kay Tomlinson and Colleen Kempton won the Nelson Bays Centre Pairs title. This is Colleen's second Centre title and gives Kay her gold star.

24/01/08 - The possible final of the Men's Pairs commenced on Saturday morning at 10.00 am. In a close game, the one-lifers, Ron Parton and Colin Wood were two up playing the last end. Lance Orsler, playing with John Jennings, just failed to take out his opponents second shot, thus requiring a further game to be played in the afternoon. In another close battle, Ron got off to an early lead with Lance snapping at his heels. Ron and Colin again proved the stronger and won their second encounter.

24/01/08 - Four players contested the Junior Singles today, in round one David Thompson beat John Powell while Dale Maxwell got the better of John Wheeler. David then kept his lives intact and got the bye by beating Dale, in the battle of the Johns, Powell came from behind to pip Wheeler. The possible final was a see-saw affair with David going out to a big lead. Dale almost caught up before David settled and clinched the win.

20/01/08 - Omanu Teams were successful at the Ash Browne event held today at Te Puke. Winners were the Leads and Twos team of Pauline Bailey, Bev Murdoch, June Gerrard and Kath Steiner. Runners up were Bev White, Josephine Connolly, Sue Pepper and Ailsa Follett. Our junior teams have done very well at Te Puke in recent times.

19/01/08 - At an Executive meeting today it was proposed to call a Special General Meeting to be held on Friday, 6 February (Waitangi Day) at 1.00 pm. The Agenda has yet to be finalised but notices will be delivered shortly. Come prepared to play in the Mixed Club Draw and barbecue starting at 4.00 pm.

18/01/09 - After the excitement of the National Championship Finals, we return down to earth! The Men's Champ Pairs have been played over the past weekend. 17 teams commenced play on Saturday with the semi-finals being played in the sixth round, the last game to be played on Sunday afternoon. The two-lifer remaining was the team of Lance Orsler and John Jennings who accounted for Ken White and Larry Pepper quite comfortably. Also winning with an end to spare was the combination of Ron Parton and Colin Wood who took out Jim Pratt and Gary Andrews. A possible final is scheduled for next Friday 23 January.

03/01/09 - Today was the commencement of the National Bowls Championships held this year in Auckland. Omanu's sole representatives, playing in the Pairs, are Bev White and Josephine Connolly. They will be joined in the Fours next weekend by Bev's sister, Colleen Kempton together with Kay Tomlinson of the Richmond, Nelson Club.

Play in the Pairs started this morning at the Otahuhu Railways Bowling Club. First up game was against top BoP bowler Raewyn Willis and it is my pleasure to report a win to Omanu with 18 points to 13, a very good start.

The second game of day one has now been completed and at the finish of the regulation number of ends was all square. Unfortunately our girls lost the extra end. The rain that started during this game got heavier, but play continued even though the greens had to be squeegeed every few ends. Not very pleasant playing conditions but we came through to win in the end! Two out of three - very good. The story will continue tomorrow.

04/01/09 - It is a sunny day here in Auckland for the National Bowls Championships, quite a change from yesterday when the girls has to play through flooded greens. Bev and Josephine started on the right note with a win in the first before taking an early lunch. They now need one more win from the next two games to qualify. As they remarked, "there are no easy teams at the Nationals".

The good news is; After winning their second game of the day Bev and Josephine have qualified for Post-Section play. Their Fours team-mates, Colleen and Kay, are also in the same position of having won four from five. Play in this event continues on Wednesday morning - watch this space.

07/01/09 - Post-Section Pairs today and the two pairs had to head off in different directions, one to Howick and the other to Hillsborough. Fortunately they were able to borrow a car from Bev's daughter Lynette. Sad for Bev and Josephine, they came up with a first-round loss to "a Fijian lady with a big drive". In the car and off to Hillsborough to watch Kay and Colleen. After winning their first game, they too went out. Now looking forward to the Fours on Saturday.

10/01/09 - Today was the start of the National Foursand Bev and company set off early for the Mount Albert Club. Conditions were not pleasant but play started on time, however after a while flooding forced them off the greens. The decision was then made to move them to Epsom, it is always a challenge for out-of-towners to move around Auckland but they eventually found their new location. After losing their first game to a strong team skipped by Joyce Dunning, they managed to win their next two games. The forecast for Sunday is not good, the players have been warned to tune into the cancellation service.

11/01/09 - Another of those Auckland days as the girls traverse the city in search of a dry green. They started at Henderson this morning and at times were forced to play though ponded areas. Eventually, conditions forced a change to Remuera. Trial ends were still not completed before another downpour saw them moved to yet another green, this time an artificial one. The good news though is they they have now qualified for post-section play tomorrow. It has been a long day, they left their base shortly after 7 am and did not return til 7.30 pm.

12/01/09 - 31 teams qualified for play today in three sections. Bev and Josephine's team, (with Kay Tomlinson and Colleen Kempton of Richmond club) play today at the Papatoetoe RSA, their first game against Dale Roderick of Havelock North, ex-Matua and playing with three Tauranga South members. Our girls must have bowled particularly well as the last two ends were not played. Their next game will be against the winner between Norma McIntosh of Glendowie and Maureen Parker of Kensington, (Bev's old Northland Club.) Now you are down to the last sixteen! Keep it up, we are right behind you.

Down to last Eight! The Omanu/Richmond team continue their progress and are now in the quarter-finals! I have no details of their winning score or their upcoming opponents but will update when possible.

12/01/09 - Later -The winning margin in the first game was 22/7, not 22/17 as reported in the Bowls New Zealand web site. Their opponents in game two were the Glendowie team of Norma McIntosh and in a close game Kay and company won 15/14. In the quarter-finals to be played tomorrow they will meet Karin Ware of Beckenham who has already defeated Mt Maunganui's Raewyn Willis and Mere Ansell of Sandringham. As I will be in Auckland as an interested spectator, there will be a delay in updating the information on this site.

13/01/09 - Great, the girls had a fantastic day, a good win in the morning giving them a spot in the semi-final. In the afternoon, the game against Emma Waerehu of Mangere proved much tougher. Down four with two to play, a single and a triple got them into an extra end playoff. Holding shot, Kay did not need to play the last bowl. We look forward to the final tomorrow.

14/01/09 - Finals Day! By the time play started supporters had arrived from far afield, sisters, husbands, nephews, nieces, children and grandchildren, from Tauranga, Wanganui, Nelson! Local supporters of the Auckland opposition were completely out-voiced. Many spectators who were there to watch the Bellis/Grgicevich game switched their attention when that game became one-sided and ended prematurely. The game was always close with the result in doubt, and with much examination of the head lasted almost four hours. Three up, but the last end was building against them when Kay called for Josephine to run the shot bowl. She did this brilliantly killing the jack, the replayed end going in their favour.

The acknowledged underdogs were now New Zealand Champions and the next hour was hectic. Hugs and kisses all round, tears and laughter, interviews, photographs, presentations - and a proud daughter of Bev, Lynette, secured for the team and supporters a magnum of champagne which they did not waste by spraying it at each other! Former Wanganuians Bev and Colleen got together with a fellow Wanganui old boy, Peter Bellis for a celebratory photo.

PostScript. Thursday's Wanganui Chronicle made a strong play of the 'Wanganui Connection' featuring a full story and 6 x 8 photo of the team alongside a feature on Peter Bellis' result.

14/12/08 - The Club held it's Christmas Party as a pot-luck luncheon today. There were over 60 members and partners present for the event which started with a 'happy hour' of drinks and nibbles at 11.30. The Club provided the ham and potatoes while members brought an impressive array of sandwiches, savouries, salads and desserts. The Christmas Cake arrived but most of us were too full to eat anything else! Thanks to President Colin who played a selection of carols and seasonal music on the organ, accompanied by the vocals of Gail and Carol-Ann.

16/12/08 The Women's Academy Pairs took place today. Eight drawn teams played three games of 16 ends. At the conclusion of game two there was one two-winner and seven one-winners. Game three really was the big decider. Pat Couchman & Maggie Hay, the two winners lost their third game by one point to Gail Wood & Elizabeth Powell. With four two-winners, the result went right down to the wire. Both pairs of Sue Pepper & Mollie Norman and Pauline Bailey & Faye Coombes had two wins and a differential of +18 but Sue and Mollie won the trophy with less points scored against. Pat Couchman & Maggie Hay were third and Gail Wood & Elizabeth Powell fourth, both with two wins. It is not surprising Omanu has done so well in Interclub and Academy Baywide competitions. These ladies played great bowls.

15/12/08 - The final of the Women's InterClub Fours took place today at the Mount Maunganui Bowling Club. The side comprised two teams of four, the Open team with Judy Smallbone, Mary Conroy, Gail Wood & Sue Pepper together with a Graded team of Mary Hingston, Josephine Connolly. Margaret Bromell & Pat Couchman. The opposition was Matua, always a tough proposition. Mary's team fought well but went down by a small margin while Judy has a convincing win over her opponent. With one game to each team, but having the better differential, Omanu were declared the winners. It is unfortunate that some organisational aspects marred the event somewhat. The greens seemed under-prepared, rolled but uncut, and it is unacceptable that no Umpire was engaged for this Western Bay Final.

11/12/08 - Omanu Women held their Christmas Cracker Day, commencing with their traditional Champagne Breakfast. Many of them wore their 'Christmas Red' to mark the occasion.

06/12/08 - Club bowler Maggie Hay again attended the National Blind Lawn Bowlers Association Championships which took place recently in Rotorua. Maggie gave some interesting insights into the workings of this group after her visit to the same event held in Gisborne two years ago. Maggie again enjoyed success, once more coming second in the pairs competition. It is good to see bowlers overcoming the severe obstacle of impaired sight to play the game so well.

06/12/08 - The final of the Champ Triples was played this morning. A relieved Gary Andrews admitted that he had been under increasing domestic pressure to match his spouse in the Championship stakes.

The early breaks went to the Pratt team, a five putting them in the box seat. Faced with the task of playing catch-up bowls, John Francis, Noel McLeod & George Hollingworth were forced into low percentage shots which, unfortunately for them, did not come off. Perennial champion Jim Pratt with Gary Andrews & Larry Pepper played steady and consistent draw bowls to force the game to an early conclusion. The final score did not necessarily reflect the nature of the game.

05/12/08 - The Minchen Trophy Mixed drawn Fours was played today in lovely sunny conditions. Runner-up was the team skipped by Jack Dobson with Garth Murdoch, Nita Cowper & John Powell, the winners being Noel Laurent, Josephine Connolly, Dale Maxwell & Neil Meltzer.

02/12/08 - Two Omanu teams enjoyed success in the Leads & Twos event held at Matua today. An excited Gail Wood was thrilled to win Second, her first prize as a skip, in this tournament. In her team were Iris Kilduff, Pat Couchman and Elizabeth Powell. Also in the prizes at fourth were Sue Pepper, June Gerrard, Kath Steiner and Pat Andrews. These tournaments provide a great opportunity for players to gain experience in competitive play. Interestingly, all the prizes went to Omanu and Mount Maunganui teams.

27/11/08 - Three one-lifers contested the second day of the Women's Junior Singles played this morning. Pat Couchman was unable to maintain the fine form that has taken her this far, going down to the consistent Pat Andrews in the semi. Pat took her A game into the final to defeat defending Champ (and last season's Champ of Champ) Kath Steiner. The quality of our Juniors at Omanu is outstanding.

26/11/08 - The Thornton Triples was played today in sunny, hot conditions. The Trophy was decided by way of a four game tournament, the winners being the only team to win all four games. The team of Ken White, Larry Pepper and Barrie Liddell won the Trophy with Gary Andrews, Winston and Andrew Davey being Runners-Up.

21/11/08 - After three gruelling days, the Women's Champ Triples was decided this afternoon. The day commenced with three one-life teams in contention. In the semis, Bev White's team had an enthralling encounter with Jean Browne, Audrey Wills and Pat Couchman. Half way thorough, honours were even until a break from Bev saw her team going away to an eight point advantage. They wavered in the penultimate end by dropping a four, but regained their composure to take a point, and the game in the final end.

Picking up a five in the third end, Pauline Bailey, Bev Murdoch and June Gerrard gained early ascendancy, ahead by five shots by the fourth end. The situation gradually evened with Bev White, Josephine Connolly and Sue Pepper regaining the lead to take the game. All the games today were excellent, and the players involved, were worthy finalists.

20/11/08 - The Bay Junior Women's team to play in the Quadrangular event at Katikati on 6 December has been named. Kath Steiner will play the Singles and Pat Andrews will lead in the Triples. BoP will take on Waikato, Thames Valley and Counties. It is a great achievement for Omanu to take two of the six available places and a tribute to the quality of these two players.

08/11/08 - The delayed Final of the Women's Champ Fours was played today on a sunny but rather windy and cool morning. The teams had already met twice during this event, the honours being even. Mary Hingston with Marion Caie, Gail Wood and Pat Andrews were the early leaders, going to a seven to three lead at one time. The turning point came in the eleventh end when the Bev White skipped team picked up a five taking them into the lead, by two, for the first time. They continued to have the upper hand, eventually winning by 17 to 13. Bev's team members were Josephine Connolly, Karen Clarke and Sue Pepper. The standard of play throughout the game was excellent with the shot changing hands regularly.

07/11/08 - It is now official! Our Women's Development team were clear winners in the Baywide by a margin of four game points and 23 differential points over the Matua Club. It is also confirmed that the Men's Open Division team qualified for the forthcoming final. Didn't they do well!

06/11/08 - Omanu Teams have enjoyed a great couple of days in three events held here in BoP. "Pick of the Crop" was the Leads & Twos team of June Gerrard, Sue Pepper, Sheena Davey and Pat Andrews who once more took the Sybill Mitchell Trophy at Te Puke. June and Sue were also winners last year under Ann McQuillan and the previous year with Marion Caie. Omanu teams have now won the event in five of the past six years.

Also having success today in the Tauranga South Pairs were Bev White and Josephine Connolly. They had to overcome stern opposition to become clear winners in an extremely strong field. Without taking out any major prizes, Omanu teams were also prominent in the two-day Mt Maunganui Invitation Triples. Making the top section were teams skipped by Lance Orsler, Ken White and Graham Caie, Graham being an unlucky Fourth after an administrative blunder had him erroneously at Third. Jim Pratt did well to gain Third prize in Section two.

02/11/08 - The selections for the Women's Development Baywide Interclub Team were fully justified by their results over the past weekend. The squad completed the event with only one loss - and that by a single shot! They certainly proved to be "Simply the Best". No official results have been yet declared but a victory in the Division seems a foregone conclusion!

The Triples team of Pauline Bailey, June Gerrard & Kath Steiner put in a faultless performance in winning their five games. The Pairs team of Sue Pepper & Pat Andrews almost matched them losing one game only by a solitary point.

The Men's Open Division - Triples Team Ron Browne, John Francis & Trevor Hingston, Pairs team Noel McLeod & Alec Horsburgh - also did well enough to come a close second thus qualifying for the final to be held on 15 November. To the other teams that represented the club in the Baywide - You did well, Congratulations all.

21/10/08 - Selections for the Men's & Women's Baywide Interclub to be played on the weekend of the first and second of November are listed below.

The selections appear to be known in the Club and I have heard some adverse comments of the Selectors. Maybe Members could take the following into account before criticising.
* Availability. There are limited numbers and some members, for their own valid reasons choose to be unavailable. There must be adequate reserves for each team.
* Balance. The Selectors must find the right mix of abilities, players must have the shots for the position they are playing in, Skips and Directors must be able to read and direct a head.
* Compatibility. Some players differ so much in style or temperament that they would not mix in the same team.
I know that the Selectors have been following players over the course of the season. They have had several meetings to discuss and compare their notes. I suggest members give them credit for their honest endeavours to select the best available teams to represent our club.
Submitted by Ken White

19/10/08 - The Men's Handicap Pairs were held this weekend, 18 teams competed with 8 to qualify for play on Sunday. First round losers went on to compete in the plate event, the finalists being David Cartwright & Tom Clarke who eventually prevailed over Jim Marks & David Hawkins in a close fought battle. In the final of the main event, the dark horses David Thompson & Walter Riddell played superb bowls to give defending champs Ken White & Larry Pepper no show of winning. In a surprise move the losers sought, and were granted, a permanent suppression order that the final score may never be published.

16/10/08 - The first Club Championship of the season, the Women's Fours played over the past few days provided plenty of excitement and last-minute reversals. After losing their first life to Bev White's team, the Mary Hingston skipped four made the final with a late win over Pauline Bailey's team. Bev retained her two lives with a win over the Lynlie Edwards four.

The two-lifers, Bev White, Josephine Connolly, Karen Clarke and Sue Pepper entered the possible final facing Mary Hingston, Marion Ellis, Gail Wood and Pat Andrews. With one end to play, the game seemed to lie with Bev sitting three up but a disastrous four-shot drop saw the game go to Mary. The final, now re-scheduled for Saturday morning 8 November after rain delays, should be a humdinger!

12/10/08 - The Men's Handicap Singles just completed was won by the perennial favourite Jim Pratt over Gary Andrews in a convincing manner. Winner of the newly-introduced plate event was Charles Pettit who defeated two-handicapper Noel Laurent.

It has been pointed out to me that of the four finalists, three of them were on scratch indicating the possibility of some defects in either the handicapping system or the format of the event. Two solutions have been offered, one is that the event be played as 21 shots - the other that games be reduced to 15 ends (see Bulletin Board.) Considering my aching back on Sunday evening, this 76 year-old would favour any reduction in the number of ends played!

28/09/08 - The club fielded five teams in the Men's Pennants held over the weekend. All the teams held their own in this tough competition, most finishing in the top half of their sections. Best result was possibly the pair of John Jennings and Alec Horsburgh with 4 wins from five games in the Reserve Division Sevens.

The Full Results are listed below.
Open Division - side of seven each player/team played 5 games
Singles: Graham Caie - 3 wins
Pairs: Gary Andrews, Colin Wood - 3 wins
Fours: Jim Pratt, Noel McLeod, Jack Dobson, Jim McQuillan - 2 wins
Reserve Division - side of seven each player/team played 5 games
Singles: Charles Pettit - 3 wins
Pairs: John Jennings, Alec Horsburgh - 4 wins
Fours: John Francis, Ron Brown, Tom Gilchrist, Trevor Hingston - 2 wins
Fours Division - One fours team played 5 games
Fours: Ken White, Jim Whitelock, Walter Riddell, Barry Humphrey - 3 wins
Development Division - side of five each team played 5 games
Pairs: Tom Clarke, George Hollingworth - 3 wins
Triples: Winston Davey, Larry Pepper, Don Shand - 2 wins
Junior Division - side of five each team played 5 games
Pairs: Andrew Davey, David Cartwright/ Ron Kilduff - 2 wins and a draw
Triples: David Thompson, Paddy Curtis, Dale Maxwell - 3 wins

29/09/08 - Following on from the weekend of Pennants, the BoP Women had their first taste of Interclub. The Omanu A side took on the Mount A away. Mary Hingston skipped the A team to a good victory. The B (graded) team led by Shirley Frost went down by one shot giving Omanu 4 from a possible 6 competition points. The Omanu B side, at home to Tauranga RSA, gained 5 competition points with a win to Bev White's graded team and a draw to Myrtle Wright's A team. A great first-up effort.

There will be a report on the pennants when the full results are available.

21/09/08 - The BoP Juniors side defeated Gisborne-East Coast at Ohope on Sept 21, winning the Waioeka Shield. The overall score was BoP 26 points to Gisborne-East Coast's 10 points.

The BoP Women scored 12 points, (11 sets) while the Men scored 14 points, (12 sets). The sides comprised of three Men"s and Women"s Triples teams. Each team played three games (2 bowl triples) of two 7 end sets, with a tie breaker of 3 ends if the sets were squared. Andrew Davey's team managed three wins and both Kath Steiner and Pat Andrews succeeded in winning two games. Well done Omanu.

15/09/08 - The BoP Juniors are playing against Gisborne this Sunday, the 21st, at Ohope. Congratulations to those Omanu players in the side. They are Kath Steiner and Pat Andrews for the Women and Andrew Davey for the Men. We wish them well.

08/08/08 - Omanu representatives in the BoP Juniors have been named to play against the Waikato at Frankton later this month. They are Pat Andrews, Karen Watson and Kath Steiner. Congratulations all.

18/07/08 - I thought we must be back at the Omanu Bowling Club! There we were in the Maroochydore Beach Bowling Club. "And the Winner is . . . Trevor and Mary Hingston with a margin of plus 34" and "the Runner-up is . . . Ken and Bev White with a margin of plus 29" Lovely - wish it happened more often.

27/06/08 - Just heard the news that Margot Siddell has accepted the position of Women's Vice President. Well done, Margot, I'm sure you will do a great job.

14/06/08 - On a sunny June day, a group of Tauranga Development bowlers joined with Rotorua bowlers in a two-day "friendly" event at the Tauranga South Club. Our Omanu Club was very well represented, among the the players were Sue Pepper, Pat Andrews, John Wheeler, Ann Harold, Kathleen Purdy, June Gerrard, Karen Watson and Andrew Davey - if I missed anyone, my apologies! On Saturday there were to be three games of one hour forty minutes and the standard of bowling was excellent. The tournament, sponsored by the Kittyhawks, continued on Sunday. The eventual winners were a team skipped by Jean Morris of Matua, John van Otterdyke of Te Puke with our own Karen Watson leading, with seven wins from nine games. Well done!.

May 2008 - Two of our Life members Betty and Frank Lee recently approached the Club and made a substantial donation. Frank and Betty now live in Tauranga and currently play their bowls at Tauranga South. They obviously have very fond recollections of the Omanu Club and continue to be strong supporters. Thanks folks, we really appreciate your contribution.

01/06/08 - Each Monday afternoon, our Indoor Bowlers enjoy a session at the club. Three or four mats are laid and 20 to 30 members and visitors join in. Convenors of this sport for many years have been Lance and Shirley Frost, both competent bowlers themselves. Members are all welcome to come along as are visitors. For a $2.00 entrance fee you get three games, tea and biscuits and you might even receive a prize. Why not join in the fun?

It is my pleasure and privilege to announce that on Wednesday, 28th of May, the wedding took place between Graham Caie and Marion Ellis. I am sure all members of the Club will join with me in extending to Mr and Mrs Caie our congratulations and best wishes for their future.

23/05/08 - The Annual General Meeting held today was well attended by over 90 people. Most of the Executive positions were filled, with Larry Pepper agreeing to a third term as Treasurer. There were too some welcome new faces, John Jennings accepting the role of Men's Vice-President. The meeting supported some increases in subscriptions and in a show if fiscal austerity chopped all travelling allowances to the Club's officers. A full list of appointees can be found on the Who's What page.

The "autumn clearances" have now taken place and all items from the 2007/08 season have been removed to Archives. They make interesting reading if you would like to refer back to them.

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