Great start to season
Te Awamutu Bowling Club reports an amazing start to the new season.
Over the opening seven weeks members have enjoyed facilities and greens that are in great order, new members have been attracted from other centres and a number of beginners are taking up the sport due to the success of the new Saturday Bowls programme.
Attendances at Thursday Club days has been strong and a growing contingent of bowlers regularly turn up on Friday mornings to the coaching sessions.
On Wednesday, September 25 the club ran a Men’s and Women’s Tournament, playing a pairs format called 2x4x2.
Sponsors for the tournaments were Singleton and Hansen and Paper Plus Te Awamutu.
Organisers are grateful to the local businesses for the ongoing support that allows the club to be viable.
The successful men’s teams were two local teams and an outside team from Puta¯ ruru, regular supporters of the club.
The winning pair were Terry Osment and Bryan Ryburn on four wins from Terry White and Barry Bryant on three wins and a draw, from Butch Hamilton and Ray Sullivan with three wins and a loss.
It was a good result for Barry Bryant, one of the club’s relatively new bowlers, in his second year and doing well.
The women’s tournament was also dominated by local teams — Janet Officer and Margaret Littlewood taking the honours with four wins, with Jenny and Lyn Welch from Huntly coming second with three wins and a loss and locals Linda Bennett and Nevenka Drnasin also on three wins and a loss, just one point adrift of second.
Following over the weekend of October 5-6 Te Awamutu held the Senior Men’s Pairs which is a trophy event for drawn teams.
John Lapthorne and Terry Young, last years winners, met Bryan Ryburn and Frank Loomb in the first semi-final — Ryburn and Loomb prevailing 19/17.
In the other semi-final James Riley and Chris Tait went down to Terry Osment and John Apeldoorne 13/10.
The final between the four veterans ended with Frank Loomb and Bryan Ryburn triumphant by 19/10.
On Friday last week the club held a Twilight Bowls evening, open to non members, friends and family.
Two games of bowls were followed by a meal and the event was deemed a success, with close to 40 people enjoying the new carpet green which is proving an asset.
Organisers are planning more in the coming months as it proved such a great social activity.
Next major event is the launch of the popular Business House Bowls programme on Wednesday nights, opening night on November 6.