Hello everyone,
This is the last newsletter for 2023. It has been a busy season since we opened in September!
The Men and Women Championship Fours went down to the last end. The Men’s section was won by Joe Rowan, Rusty Petterson, Brett Lyttle and Mike Wooldridge. Runners up were Alex Hartley, Colin Haigh, John Meleisea and Mike Lyttle. The Women’s section was won by Dot Pope, Jan Hopkins, Annie Judge and Simone Stewart. Runners up were Muriel Lyttle, Donna Lee, Kirste Byloo and Edith Hewett.
The Club Singles were also close games. It was good to see some juniors seriously challenging some of our senior players. Women Singles was won by Wendy Green, runner up was Muriel Lyttle. The Mens winner was Dave Jones, runner up Mike Wooldridge.
Our Twilight community bowls has once again gone very well and it was great to see both greens full with lots of familiar faces and plenty of new ones, all having a great time. A great big thanks to Placemakers who sponsored this event. This included the meat prizes each week, the main prizes for overall winners, free sausage sizzle each of the nights and the $400.00 team prize for the best fancy dress team of the night. Look out for the photos on our website. Please support Placemakers where you can.
A huge thanks to all those that helped run these nights and make them so successful. John M., Spud, and Tony helping me set up each week; Janice, Edith, Muriel, John M., Cherri. Jan on the barbecue and sausage sizzle; Peter, Annie, Spud, Vern for helping sort out bowls; bar staff – Alex, Graham, Bill, Brian, Dot, Ted, Brownie; Dave and Caryl Jones for organising the teams and weekly games, Jim and Di for general help where it was needed and keeping an eye on things. Your help is greatly appreciated and this was also acknowledged by Chris Bell, Placemakers GM fro Taupo aand Rotorua.
The coaching days have now finished and thanks to Marlene, Sandra, Wendy, Annie, Lyn, Jan and Jim for helping with this. I feel this has been very successful with quite a few new members signing up.
Leading up to Christmas, a lot of work functions have booked our facilities to help celebrate the end of the year and the coming festive season. Once again, huge thanks to people who have come forward to help us run and host these events: John M, Spud, Lyn, Mary, Austin, Sandi, Rick, Dave B, Phil, Rusty – your help is much appreciated by me.
Our Christmas Hams tournament was well attended with 48 in the field! Thanks to Pak’nSave for sponsoring this tournament. The winning teams were Jack Giddy, Norm Bluck and Sonia Choat with all 4 games won. Liz Witton, Bill Thompson and Di Hartley also had 4 wins. Jan Hopkins, John Memeisea and Maureen Blackburn had 31/2 wins as did Joe Rowan, Donna Lee and Eleanor Usherwood.
The Southern section of the Baywide Sevens was played in Taupo on Saturday. There were some great games played with very strong competition. Our ladies team came runner up to Ngongotaha and our mens came in a close 3rd behind Reporoa with Ngongotaha winning mens as well. All the best to the Ngongotaha teams going forward.
Our Thursday Clubs Nights have been popular with a core group of members attending each week, and then some attending when they can. The club draw is now in its 4th week. So far $100 has been won on the 2nd night (you have to be there to claim it!). The Fish ‘n Chips or Pizza meals have proved to be popular on these nights and I have to say a big thanks to Margaret Beck for organising and taking the orders each week.
Please note that the last Clubs night for 2023 will be on the 21st December. These will resume in February 2024.
A wise man told me “when you are practising bowls also remember to practise rolling up the Jack!”
Once again, thanks to all those that have made the season run so successfully so far; the club cannot do it without you!.
I wish you all a safe and happy festive season.