Your chance to have a go at bowls in Foxton
There’s a new artificial lawn after fire and also the clubhouse is being rebuilt
Blustery conditions did not deter Foxton and Beach Bowling Club members on Saturday — they turned out for the club’s open day anyway. They had a chance to give the club’s brand-new artificial lawn a workout, using brightly coloured training balls: yellow, blue, purple and green.
After the fire 18 months ago, which destroyed the clubhouse and affected its artificial lawn in front, the club has been rebuilding. One half of the clubhouse is in use, while the second half is being built. It is hoped it will be able to be used by Christmas. Among those helping newbies trying out the game was one of the club’s champions, Tracey Macrae, who is also Manawatu¯ junior champion for 2022 and 2023. “You are a junior regardless of age if you have played bowls competitively for eight years or less,” she said. “I am in my sixth year.”
Fellow club member Sandy
Petersen, with whom she won the 8s pairs championship for the region, has played a similar number of years.
“We were winning our championship in a howling gale.”
The current season has only recently gotten under way. Macrae said you need to win the club championship first, then the winners in each category from 12 clubs affiliated to Manawatu¯, clubs from Waitarere Beach going south belong to Ka¯piti, play each other.
The club has some artistic talent among their number, looking at the cartoons that adorn many of the windows and doors of the clubhouse. The club used to host many social outings in the past, attracting locals, many who joined the club as social, rather than playing, members.
Foxton and Beach have acquired 13 new members this year and now has 60 fully paid-up members and another 60 who are social members. On Tuesdays the club plans to hold twilight bowls (from 6pm), which is ideal for beginners. “Many of us started that way,” said Macrae.