Article

Archived News 2010 / 2011

Club News

The following club newsletters are available:

Bowls Birkenhead Newsletter No. 21

Birkenhead Club of the Year 2009 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Club of the Year 2010 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Runner-Up Club of New Zealand Year 2010

Obituary

Jack Varley (aka Jacko).
Jack passed away some weeks ago and his funeral was held at Dils North Harbour (it was great to see so many members attend). The eulogy was given by John Porter (on behalf of the club). Thank you John. After the funeral family and friends returned to the Bowling Club for refreshments.

New Members

None

Social Members

Bob Rutherford

Membership

This has increased over the summer season (social and bowlers). A total of 45 new members. A number of other clubs members will be joining us for the start of the 2012 season. Please welcome them to the club.

Prize Giving

The day was a success. We managed to get a game of bowls played (with a good turnout). A few refreshments were tasted after the game. Prize giving officially started when members arrived back from playing North Harbour events. Our ladies qualified the final on Sunday – which they won! Congratulations to Carole Fredrick and Ruth Lynch (North Harbour pairs) and also to Carole Fredrick, Ruth Lynch, Lisa Helming, Trish Mahon (North Harbour Fours).

After the prize giving speeches were given, Len Lanigan (QSM, JP) made a speech and a number of jokes, then dropped a bombshell: Len wishes to resign as patron of the club to spend more time with his wife. We hugely thank Len on behalf of the club for everything you have done over the years! Here is a small breakdown; Len joined in 1944 (67 years as a member), was a delegate for several years, Bowls North Shore Centre, Vice President in 1978, delegate Auckland bowls 1977-78, Past president Birkenhead Bowling Club. This is a huge achievement in so many ways.

Greens

The top green is now closed (getting a makeover) but the bottom green is still available for practice use. Please use the boundary pegs as a number and scrims to be used at all times (games and practices).

Winter Bowls Programme

Morning Tea and Pepper Soup Provided;

Tuesday Triples (Start 9.30am)		Sunday Fours (Start 9am)
May 24th		May 29th
June 7th + 21st		June 12th + 26th
July 5th + 19th		July 10th + 24th
August 2nd + 16th		August 7th + 21st

A.G.M.

Saturday 1.30pm on the 11th of June 2011.

This is an important meeting – Please come and support the club (we would really appreciate your attendance).

Kevin Croasdale
Club Captain

Birkenhead Women's Annual Open Pairs 2011

Teams from as far afield as Greymouth, Wellington, Wanganui, Napier, Taraunga, joined players from Counties, Auckland & North Harbour to compete in this very successful event. The total prize pool was $5,850, with the overall winners walking away with $1,500 - not bad for 2 days of bowling!

The field of 32 teams included current and past National players, along with various former National Title holders and two players from Mairangi who have only been playing for just 14 months.

Thanks and well done to Leanne Chinery and Emmie Swart and to the other willing volunteers, whose efforts cemented recognition of this event as a regular "must play" annual tournament.

Results were:

Cup Championship
Winners: Dale Lang, Genevieve Baildon
Runners Up: Reen Stratford, Rima StricKand
Third Equal: Sheryl Johnson, Leigh Culter and Fay Yates, Jenny Jones

Cup A Flight
Winners: Gayle Melrose, M.Nepia
Runners Up: Pam Salvador, Jean Poland

Cup B Flight
Winners: Noelene Culpan, Jan Jones
Runners Up: Carol Fredrick, Tracey Jenner

Consolation
Winners: Mary Guldbransen, Madeline Holland
Runners Up: Laura Bailey, Barbara Lyon

Consolation A Flight
Winners: Eileen Anderson, Marlene Foster
Runners Up: Mary-Anne Taylor, Julie Armstrong

Women's Open Pairs 2011
Cup Championship Winners: Genevieve Baildon & Dale Lang

Women's Open Pairs 2011 - Cup Championship Final
Rimma Strickland & Reem Stratford vrs Genevieve Baildon & Dale Lang

Women's Open Pairs 2011
Andrew Reeves (Sommet TV), Leanne Chinery & Emmie Swart (Tournament Organisers) & Matt Burton (Sponsor - Slipp Inn)

More success for Grantham and Watkins

Congratulations again to Tony and Randall who will now represent Birkenhead in the finals of the Pairs and the Fours at the National Club Championships after won both titles in the Northern Regional play offs. They were joined by Merv Garred and Neil Pierce in the Fours. Good luck to both teams when they compete in Wellington during week beginning 11 April 2011.

Bowls Birkenhead Newsletter No. 20

10 February 2011

Birkenhead Club of the Year 2009 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Club of the Year 2010 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Runner-Up Club of New Zealand Year 2010

Obituary

Jack Thurlow
Peter Readway
Both Members had a good send off from the club members.

New Members

Evan Thomas Skip (from North Sydney Bowling Club)
Ihaka Waaka – 1st Year

Social Members

David Nicholls
Craig Moverley
Leonie Eton
James Gordan

Upcoming Events

Two emails have been circulating to all members;

1. Club handbook as from November till end of season – Some events have been rescheduled. Check emails and copies of changes can be obtained from the club.

2. Proposed Hong Kong Bowls Trip – April was proposed date for the trip, but this was too early for members. More suitable time proposed for end of October / early November. We need a minimum of 16 players. Proposed trip would be approximately $2,400 per person (includes all travel, accommodation and breakfast). For next meeting, check your email and the club notice will be displayed.

Club Events

I.H.C Tournament – February 6th.
Our largest tournament for a very long time. Two full greens including four teams had byes. Enjoyable day had by bowlers and non-bowlers.
Auction was held;
Gary Banks sponsored a fishing trip for the day (for a group).
Dave Good sponsored a helicopter ride over Auckland for three people (an area of their choice). Both auctions created a great deal of interest.

Raffles were very well supported, overall a well organised day.

Thanks goes to Sandy as M.C – Did a great job!
Thanks also to Garry Cooley for the use of the amplifier and speaker for the day.
Thanks again to the bar staff upstairs & downstairs, they were extremely busy and to Harold Golf washing glasses and keeping the chillers stocked.
The hub of the day was the Birkenhead Rotary Club who supplied, set tables for morning tea (and lunches) and running the raffles. HUGE thanks to Rotary for the great day.

The money Rotary raised was for the North Shore Hospital building (which is almost complete). The building is specifically for heart patients and the money raised will go toward complex heart equipment.

The money raised was an astronomical $6,500!

Well done to all who contributed to make this event such a success!

Kevin Croasdale
Club Captain

Birkenhead Members to Fore in Centre Teams

Congratulations to the following members who have been selected in representative teams:

Men's Open Team

Tony Grantham, Rod Mahon, Danny O'Connor

Men's Open Reserve Team

Shane Gibson, Mike Nagy, Peter Nathan, Brian Wilson

Women's Open Team

Leanne Chinery, Lisa Helmling, Ruth Lynch, Gail Melrose

We look forward to you all enjoying a great representative season.

Bowls Birkenhead Newsletter No. 19

Birkenhead Club of the Year 2009 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Club of the Year 2010 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Runner-Up Club of New Zealand Year 2010

Obituary

Dave Harper

Dave passed away after a major operation in Auckland Hospital on 20 November 2010. Dave was adamant to be 100% okay to survive and not be disabled in any way. Dave's funeral was held at the Birkenhead Bowling Club. Being an ex fireman, three fire engines were outside the club. But again, Dave had the last laugh. I was pall bearer and Dave was buried (being an ex fire fighter the flame wasn't going to get him). At the cemetery we went through the usual protocol, when ready to leave, the cover was removed off the clay and there were three shovels. We were asked to replace the clay; it took six of us one hour to complete the task (each taking turns). Farewell Dave, you won the battle.

New Member

Social - James Gordan

Club Almoner

Kevin George has relinquished this position. Kaio Rivers has taken on this roll of Club Almoner. Kaio's phone number is 480 0745.

Jack Varley (Jacko) is still in the rest home in Beachhaven. Jacko has been up to the club from time to time. Thanks to Jimmy Larsen for bringing Jacko up to the club. Jimmy was saying that Jacko is holding in there.

That's all the doom and gloom for this year.

Championships Events

So far this year …

Lisa Helming won the first Women's Centre Title 1-5 Year Title. Congratulations Lisa.

Tony and Randall won the Centre Open Pairs. Well done guys.

Birkenhead teams dominated the Men's Centre Fours; Winner and Runner-Up.

Great start for the Club.

The executives wish all club members, wives and families a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Kevin Croasdale
Club Captain

Birkenhead Teams Dominate Men's Centre Fours

What a great run for Tony Grantham and Randall Watkins, who added the Centre Fours to the Centre Pairs title they won just two weeks ago. Randall and Tony combined with Merv Garred and Neil Pearce beat our other Birkenhead team of Don Trott, Scott Curran, Brian Wilson and Bart Robertson in the final. Congratulations to all, especially to Tony who also won the 2010 N Z Open Triples title played in November.

Grantham adds Centre Pairs title to NZ Open success

Well done Tony. Just a few days after securing an N Z Open Triples title, Tony paired with Randall Watkins to win the Centre Open Pairs.

Lisa Helmling wins Club's first Women's Centre Title

Congratulations to Lisa Helmling who set another milestone for Birkenhead Bowls by winning the 1 - 5 year Centre singles to secure our first women's centre title.

Bowls Birkenhead Newsletter No. 18

Birkenhead Club of the Year 2009 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Club of the Year 2010 (North Harbour)
Birkenhead Runner-Up Club of New Zealand Year 2010

Obituaries

Two members have passed on:

Earnie Warren and Len Chase

Older club members would have known both gentlemen. Earnie had been unwell for some time, and Len visited the club from time to time for short visits.

New Members

Men

Michael Tapara 1st Year
John O'Shea 3rd grade
Steven Yates 2nd grade
George Sears 3rd grade

Women

Ruth Hitchcock 1st Year

Honorary Members

Barry Redway
Doc O'Connor
Kevin Williams

Social

P. Griffiths
Merlin Ortega
Alister Rolls
Jody Glander

Resignations

Keith Cerche
James Curran
Graham Baxter
Joel Beres
Trevor Gibbons
Trevor Watson
Trevor Forward
David Stephens
John Auckett
Dave Good
Thelma Robertson
Rosie Rymer

Runner-Up Club of New Zealand 2010

Finalists:	Beckenham Bowling Club
	Birkenhead Bowling Club
	Hut Bowling Club
	Woburn Bowling Club

The two finalists were:	Beckenham Bowling Club
	Birkenhead Bowling Club

Winner:	Beckenham Bowling Club
Runner-Up:	Birkenhead Bowling Club

There are 726 clubs in New Zealand. To come second place over-all is still a great achievement for our club. Our thanks go to the committee members past and present for the hard yards done.

Greens

Attached to the poles around the greens are red tins. These are the new ash trays ONLY. We have done away with the old ammo tins. No butts in the ditch please.

And placed on both greens in opposite corners are two rubbish bins for general use. Please use these to keep the greens tidy.

Summer time is here. The sprinkler is to be placed in the centre of the greens at the end of the day.

Disc Board

In the process of being updated. New members, a number have been upgraded and downgraded.

Kevin Croasdale
Club Captain

New Zealand Open Championships

What a great week for (and congratulations to) Shane Gibson, Tony Grantham and Rod Mahon!

Tony was a member of a composite team that won the Triples. Well done Tony.

TV3 and NZ Herald star Shane fought his way into the semi-finals of the Singles before bowing out in a very meritorious performance against a fresh opponent, after having played two tough pairs matches during that day.

Then Shane teamed up with Rod to reach the Pairs final. They made a great recovery from being well down (15 - 2) in the early stages of the match to lose by just two shots 16 - 14.

And then Rod and Shane, together with Mike Haggart, reached the quarter- finals of the Triples.

Well done also to Don Trott who reached the quarter- finals of the Singles.

Interclub Results

Congratulations to our Mens' Interclub Teams (and to Selector Don Trott) on nearly "sweeping the pool". Our Premier 1 Teams just missed out on making history (we ended up in both second and third spots), while we won Premier Division 2 to progress to the next round in the National competition. Well done also to our A and B grade Teams, who won their respective divisions.

Dick Bree Triples

Well done Don Trott, Brian Wilson and Scott Curran who made the semi-finals of the Dick Bree.

Club Captain's Report - September 2010

Mens' New Members

* Wu Tzanyu 1st year
* Vaughan Henderson 1st year
* Mike Walsh 1st year
* Andrew Dorman 1st year – phone 021 171 0881
Owen Goodwin 1st year
Leonid Shinderman 1st year
* Graham Doreen two
Tim Preston two
Colin Spencer three
Michael Douglas three
Brian Dobbins three
Colin O'Brien skip
* Jack Huriwai skip
* David McMurchy skip
* Lindsay Gilmore skip

Womens' New Members

* Nariman Eskander 1st year
* Tracey Jenner two
Thelma Robertson skip

* indicates new member in book

Social Members

Bernard Hall
Collin Barrow
Ian Valder
Malcolm MacLean
Ian Bowman

Update Around the Green

The concrete slab to the entrance of the green shed has been uplifted, removed and replaced with new concrete. This work was done by two of our members; Jimmy Whiteford and Ra Te Amo – thanks guys, a good job well done, and thanks to the 'boss' Sandy for keeping an eye on things. Sandy did other jobs around the green, so thanks Sandy for your efforts. This project took several days to complete.

September 10 2010 (Friday)

Collin will be available on the above date late afternoon for members who require bowling uniforms. It's been recommended for standardization of uniforms. Overall the blue shirt is member's choice, it's light, cool to wear, easy to wash and dry. We will try to get the shop open for general sales on this date.

John Hindmarch will be working with the 1st year juniors to give guidance to enter events and North Harbour events, when these arise. Generally John will be their mentor. John will be Don Trott, eyes for selection in future junior events. Don can't observe junior events all the time. This does not take the roll off coaches, coaching will be available on the dates and times on Page 20 in the handbook. For extra coaching other times are available between player and coach.

Kevin Croasdale
Club Captain

Subscriptions - 2010/2011

Hi All - one month to go to pay club fees before they go up. If you care to pay by electronic means, use our bank account no 123035 0699644 01

Thanks.

John Porter, Treasurer

Membership Type	Price
Full member	$140.00
Full member (O/80)	$80.00
Couples	$230.00
Associate member	$60.00
Social member	$40.00
First year and students	$20.00
O/seas visitors	$30.00

Bowls New Zealand Annual Awards

Great news. We've received the following letter from Bowls New Zealand advising that Bowls Birkenhead is a finalist for Club of the Year 2009 - 2010. The announcement of the successful candidate will be made about mid September. Fingers crossed.

Check it out.

Wears a kilt (aka skirt). Is that a hairpiece?

Whatever. Congratulations Alex. We're proud of you!