Hometown hopes in NWWTH Trophy
Horowhenua Indoor Bowls is hosting a representative event next weekend that has remained elusive in recent times.
The local team host more than 80 players from Taranaki, Whanganui and North Wellington in NWWTH Trophy event this weekend (April 15 and 16), contesting singles, pairs and fours events.
Each centre will vie for trophies with each other as well as the overall North Wellington Whanganui Taranaki Horowhenua (NWWTH) trophy. This event has been going since 1937 and is hotly contested each year.
Horowhenua has 16 players keen to take on the other centres at Waiopehu College starting Saturday, April 15.
They include Bruce Pedley, Wendy Mclean and Janet Lewis, who played in the North v South challenge at last year’s Nationals.
Local players are keen to improve on the performances of the past and hope the hometown advantage will help, including Neil and Fiona Anderson, representing Horowhenua, who recently won the married couple going the furthest at Pahīatua.
Some top players will be in action. North Wellington’s Grant Rayner has
captained the New Zealand Mat Blacks in the past, while Jess Moffat and Kyle Waldron have all represented the North Island. They will be without Mat Black Dale Rayner, who has outdoor commitments.
Trevor Rayner, past president and life member of New Zealand Indoor Bowls, is playing for the team as well and will be out to defend the trophy from last year. Taranaki have top ladies contender Sur Bourne leading the way.
Play will start at noon on Saturday and will go through into the evening, and starting again at 8.30 am on Sunday.
Supporters are welcome to attend to get behind the local team.
Recent winners of the NWWTH Trophy
2000 Wanganui
2001 Whanganui
2002 Whanganui
2003 Whanganui
2004 Taranaki
2005 Whanganui
2006 North Wellington
2007 Whanganui
2008 Whanganui
2009 Taranaki
2010 Taranaki
2011 North Wellington
2012 Whanganui
2013 North Wellington
2014 Whanganui
2015 Whanganui
2016 North Wellington
2017 North Wellington
2018 North Wellington
2019 North Wellington
2020 Not held — Covid
2021 North Wellington
2022 North Wellington
2023 ???