Open fours bowls event a season highlight for many

The Taranaki men’s open fours bowls tournament, which starts in New Plymouth and surrounding areas today, continues to buck the negative, downward trend afflicting most traditional sporting events.

Now into its 114th year, the event, which lasts for a week, has drawn 166 teams. That’s a solid increase of 10 on last year and equates to 644 players in total. There are 96 visiting teams, including eight from Australia, and 70 Taranaki quartets.

‘‘We are delighted with the response,’’ Bowls Taranaki president Brien Bennett said.

‘‘While all traditional sports know that today’s working person is time poor and we need to speed up our games to accommodate them, as illustrated by the numbers we continue to attract, there is still a large market for the Open.’’

The open is a season highlight for many, Bennett said.

Bennett believed that there were a number of factors that contributed to the success of the event, including the quality of the greens, hospitality, competition and friendly atmosphere – ‘‘and, of course, the weather’’, he added.

Teams play two 25-end games each day from today until Thursday and those winning six or more will enter the post section rounds on Friday. Post section is sudden death and six rounds will leave just the winning team standing on Sunday night.

Brody Dix’s New Lynn side of Adam Wishnoski, Keith Ansell and Gary Dougherty got to experience that great buzz 12 months ago. They have re-entered this year and join a host of quality sides.

Other visitors who will attract plenty of interest are four-time winner Dan Delany (Royal Oak), Brian Little (Palmerston North), Kevin Smith (Hinuera), Peter Belliss (Aramoho) and Ray Park (Wanganui).

Craig De Faria’s West End side, winners of the Taranaki centre fours in November, have promised much without breaking through to the money rounds in recent years. But 2019 could be their year. Other Taranaki hopes include Bruce Phillips (Tower), Dean Elgar (West End) and Paritutu teams skipped by Ian Andrews and Darren Goodin.

Part of the romance of the Taranaki open is the return of many visitors. After an absence of a couple of years, Dave Buchan, of the Tui Park club, Te Aroha, returns.

He has competed in over 30 opens and continues a marvellous family tradition. His late father, Ron, the 1934 winner, played in the open more than 60 times during his long, remarkable life.