Bowls stalwart to step down after 40 years
Harry Crosswell has played a key part in the Southland bowling community.
Over the past 40 years he has helped raise $311,000 for charities and organisations in the province.
The money was raised at Bowls Southland’s annual outdoor charity pairs tournament, which started in 1978.
Crosswell joined the pairs tournament committee five years later and has contributed to making the event a success.
He is pleased to help grow the tournament but after 35 years on the committee, he believes the time is right to retire after this year’s event in November.
‘‘We’ve got a very good young committee on board and I think it’s time for me to step aside,’’ Crosswell, of Invercargill, said.
A long list of Southland charities and organisations have benefited from the fundraising event.
‘‘It’s quite humbling to see the expressions on recipients faces and be told how they’ve helped people with the money we’ve raised,’’ Crosswell said.
The tournament is for 64 invited bowlers and has attracted some of the sport’s big names over the years, including Jo Edwards, Millie Khan, Peter Bellis and Nick Ungovich.
Three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jo Edwards has competed several times and won twice.
The tournament gave Southland bowlers the opportunity to play with or against international stars, Crosswell said.
He added when New Zealand representatives took part, some held coaching clinics and visited schools promoting bowls while in the south. Having high profile bowlers at the tournament was a marketing tool to attract newcomers into the sport.
Crosswell has played in the charity pairs tournament quite often, with his best result being a third in 1995 in partnership with Eric Allison.
The Invercargill Licensing Trust has been the tournament’s main financial supporter since the first event in 1978.
Crosswell said he was encouraged by his mother to take up bowls in the 1972-73 season.
‘‘I just love it . . . I’ve been hooked from day one.’’
He was Southland Player of the Year in the early 2000s and has 13 titles to his credit. Also among his bowling achievements are 26 years of being a Southland representative, a life member and current patron of Bowls Southland and life membership in the Waverley Bowling Club.
When asked what feeds his appetite for bowls, he said: ‘‘Competitiveness and the camaraderie with fellow bowlers. You make a lot of friends playing bowls.’’
About 2000 Southlanders play bowls, including 1400 who are registered club members.