At 92, Bill’s ready to bowl ’em over at Games
Meat packs were the secret for getting decent entries when Bill Whyte was organising golf tournaments for the Taranaki Masters Games.
But there were no such tasty prizes awarded when Whyte, who is 92, took part in the inaugural games some time in the 1990s.
“The first time I played in a masters games was for indoor bowls,” the Stratford man said.
“They never had medals; we all got certificates. I never ever did find out who won it, but it wasn’t us.”
Masters games are for athletes of masters’ age, with ages varying depending on the sport. Entrants compete against others in the same decade of their age.
There are no upper age limits, and the aim is for everyone to have a chance to participate.
This year Whyte has come full circle. He’s about to take part in the 2024 Taranaki Masters Games (TMG) indoor bowls competition in Inglewood next weekend.
And, just like with the golf, he’s keen to rustle up more competition by encouraging others to enter.
Whyte can’t remember what year he was roped in to reinvigorate the Taranaki Masters Games golf competition, after numbers had dwindled, but recalls how those meat packs did the trick.
“We organised a pre-christmas raffle,” he said.
“Half of the proceeds went to the golf club and the other half bought meat for the winner of each section.
“It backfired because we had to keep doing it – over 100 players turned up.”
He’s not sure whether any vegetarians ever took part.
Whyte, who has always enjoyed a range of sports, carried on with golf long after he handed the organising role on, but when he got to 90, decided to learn something new.
“Three of us decided we were getting a little too old for golf, so we took up outdoor bowls. We decided we were nearly old enough to play that,” he said with a laugh.
“Two of us were 90 and the other was 80 or so. You don’t have to walk as far as you do with golf, and it’s the people, it’s the company, that’s what got me into it.”
He also enjoys playing indoor bowls several times a week at the Senior Citizens Hall.
“We go down and tryto playindoor bowls for a couple of hours, and have a cup of tea. “It keeps you out of mischief,” he said. His team for the fours section on April 7 includes Judy Fels, Glenda Gallagher and Noelene Gavin, who is also 92.
“One of them is definitely a new bowler but still showing great promise,” he said. “The other two are probably better than I am.”
All three firmly declined when he asked them to be photographed for this story, he said.
There are no meat packs this year, but games co-ordinator Chloe Wilkinson has surprise spot prizes at each event, and there are goodie bags for everyone who enters and medals for winners in each age group.
So far, there have been about 400 entries, and she was hopeful of more to come.
It is the first year that Sport Taranaki has organised the games, which are sponsored by the Taranaki Electricity Trust.
People can enter at sporttaranaki.org.nz or, if they need help with entries, phone Wilkinson on 027 834 7517.