What’s happening in community
Rugby
Secondary school sevens rugby took place at Moewai Park in Whitianga. It was wonderful to see such great entries across all grades, followed by a superb standard of rugby and great camaraderie between schools. Congratulations to the following winners of each competition: Youth boys: (five teams), Paeroa College beat Mercury Bay Area School 14-12. Open girls: (six teams) Hauraki Plains College beat Paeroa College 19-10. Open boys: (six teams) Matamata College beat Paeroa College 24-12. A massive thank you to our sports coordinators, coaches, managers, players, referees and supporters for contributing towards such a fantastic day — this includes Whangamata¯ Area School and Thames High School who weren’t mentioned above. All the best to the people who suffered injuries, we wish you a safe and speedy recovery. Bring on the 15-aside season. Senior men’s club rugby starts this Saturday, April 6. Double headers this weekend, all senior b kick off 12.25pm and senior a kick off 2pm. At Waitakaruru, Hauraki North host Waih¯ı Athletic. At Te Aroha, Boyd Park, Te Aroha Cobras play Mercury Bay, Also at Te Aroha, Waihou play Thames. Whangamata¯ Senior A host Paeroa, kick off 2pm with Whangamata¯ Senior B playing Coromandel in early game, 12.25pm kick off. Ngatea Senior B have the bye. — Don Mackay
Waih¯ı golf
A mostly fine week for Waih¯ı golf after last weekend’s rain. Vets Monday competition this week was the first round of four to decide this year’s Nett medal title.
First out of the blocks and early leaders were three players, Tim Parish, Doug Ferguson, and Francis Gascoigne, all tied on nett 69. Next was Kerry Lewis with 70, while Allen Sarjant, Bill Tiffin, Norm Sanderson, and Alex Standfield all finished with nett 71, and then Gary Choat on 72. TUESDAY NINE HOLE SECTION: played a stableford haggle which resulted in two ladies being tied for the top score. Nicola Pooley and Margaret Meldrum both scored very creditable 23 points, to finish ahead of Glen Bennett with 21, and Alison Turney on 20. Michelle Bonnici and Lynda Thomson both finished with 17 points.
WEDNESDAY LADIES: The competition of the day was captain’s choice, and consisted of various scores being recorded based on the par rating of the hole. It was played in teams of
three, and the winning team was Jill Morrison, Karen Lee, and Jenny Gallaugher with 84 points. Second were Helen Baynes, Liz Purcell, and Carol Leary with 82, with two teams tied for third on 81, they being Edna Connolly, Kathy Ashton, and Heather Watters, and Adrienne Lynch, Sarah Tomsett, and Denise Mcconnon. The “Dreamers Player of the Week” was Dot Ramsey with 67 nett.
HUMES MONTHLY MEAT PACK TOURNAMENT:
A field of 64 players contested the March mixed meat pack tournament. The continuing good conditions realised some more good scoring. The best overall gross score was recorded by Allen
Sarjant who had a gross 73, while the best nett was won by Mark Bryant with a very good 66 nett. The stableford winner was a tight contest with Craig Pooley winning with 37 points, on a countback with five others on the same score. The other prizes were awarded on stableford, and in Division One, Allen Smith, Eddie Evans, Brian Verryt, and Daryll Denyer all had 37 points, while Trevor Bush (Northland), and Terry Gerbich both had 36 points, In Division Two, Ken Purcell also had 37 points, with Tim Mathews (Paeroa) on 36. Next were Wayne Green, Chris Spiers, Vince Jones, and Doug Ferguson who all finished on 35 points.
EASTER SATURDAY LADIES: played a stableford haggle in fine but windy conditions. Winning with 37 points was Edna Connolly, with Carol Leary (returning from injury) second on 36. Next was Liz Hale with 35, and Shelly Lithgow 34. Megan Jowsey won the hidden hole with 8 points.
SATURDAY MEN: A smaller than usual morning field also had the wind to contend with, and Eddie Ruha handled it best with 38 points. Second was Jim Evans with 34, then Jim Powell and Grant Robson with 33. There was a much larger field for the Afternoon Haggle with a number of visitors taking part. It was a battle for top honors with Logan Phillips, Wayne Green, and Chris spiers all at the top of the field with 41 points. Next were Davis Morris (40), Craig Pooley (39), Alex Teesdale (38),
Murray Fraser (37), with the next six players all on 35 points .— Rodger Bagshaw
Thames Music Group
Our next Sunday concert is on Sunday, April 7.
Anna Dunwoodie, harpist, well known with her quartet Gliss Harps will be entertaining a keen audience at St George’s Church at 2pm.
Anna is now a Thames resident again having moved back to Thames last year after spending 20 years in Auckland.
The harp has always been an instrument known for the sound of ethereal shimmery music which ripples from the fingers as tho it’s heaven sent, but that’s not the only way to play a harp. Gliss Harps brings you a programme of music which defies any one label — where else could you hear four harps playing a tango or a ragtime number, film music or traditional songs, something classical or a waltz, a pop song or a hymn? A fun and interesting repertoire of ensembles and solos which showcases both lever and pedal harps and a variety of sounds and techniques which you may not have known were possible on the harp!
Harpists Anna Dunwoodie, Harrison Chau, Joelle Ireland and Kate Dodds have each been playing the harp for more than half their lives and show an affinity for putting together a harp extravaganza.
Anna and Harrison are both graduates from the Auckland University School of Music, albeit 25 years apart, while Anna, Kate and Joelle are founding members of the Auckland Harp Orchestra (2013) an all comers harp ensemble which now functions as a hybrid ensemble with students all over NZ and performs concerts in Auckland and locally.
Anna and Kate are founding members of Gliss (2017) which has fluctuated in size from the original six members down to a trio, and currently is a quinquartet — appearing as a quartet for our concert at St George’s Church, Thames, while our third founding Gliss harpist, Laura Robertson, is on sick leave. Following the concert you are welcome to try playing a harp and take part in a mini harp lesson with one of the expert harpists who will show you some little harp tips.