Chch hailed as bowls Mecca
The World Bowls championships have finished ‘‘in the black’’ and have cemented Christchurch’s reputation as ‘‘a Mecca for bowls’’, says organising committee chief Kerry Clark.
Bowls authorities spent $1.5 million on staging four events in Christchurch between 2013 and 2016 – two world champion of champions tournaments, the 2015 Asia Pacific Championships and the World Bowls championships which ended last Sunday.
Clark, Bowls New Zealand’s chief executive and chairman of Bowls Events New Zealand, said the world championships were ‘‘in the black’’ before they started on November 29 and while crowds were smaller than he had hoped ‘‘ticket income wasn’t critical; it was icing on the cake stuff’’.
Significant funding support from Major Events New Zealand, the New Zealand Community Trust, the Christchurch City Council and commercial sponsors had helped cover the cost of the four events.
Clark said the 2008 World Bowls championships held in Christchurch had generated a $330,000 surplus ‘‘which we ringfenced for hosting other events, so that came into the scrum again’’.
‘‘We’re hoping that a fair chunk of that will be available again [from the 2016 surplus].’’
Some 290 bowlers from 34 nations took part in the 12-day world tournament and Clark said ‘‘feedback across the board from all countries was absolutely positive’’.
Event manager Bill Fowlie, assisted by Bowls New Zealand staff and up to 350 volunteers, ran the event like clockwork, Clark said.
The Burnside, Bowls Papanui, Fendalton and Canterbury clubs hosted World Bowls matches and 34 Canterbury clubs provided hospitality for competing teams, including practice rinks during the tournament buildup.
‘‘We couldn’t be happier from an operational point of view,’’ Clark said.
‘‘There’s no doubt about it, Christchurch is a great host city so far as support goes.
‘‘It’s a Mecca for bowls. I believe Christchurch produces the best greens in the world.
‘‘I can’t speak highly enough of the greenkeepers involved down here – those guys know what they are doing and they need to get the accolades.
‘‘Glen Miller at Burnside, Ron Sabin at Bowls Papanui, Colin James at Fendalton and Terry Stewart at the Canterbury club really look after their greens.
‘‘People love coming to play in Christchurch because of the superb surfaces.’’
Clark said World Bowls was a
‘‘I believe Christchurch produces the best greens in the world.’’ Kerry Clark, organising committe chief.
‘‘quite substantial’’ contributor to New Zealand’s inbound tourism sector.
‘‘Twenty-three of our 34 technical officials came from overseas and many brought their wives or partners with them.
‘‘A lot of them left to do a South Island tour when the tournament ended and a lot of the bowlers were planning to have holidays too.’’
The 2020 world championships will be held on Australia’s Gold Coast.