Hi everyone, Happy New Year to you all, I hope you all had a wonderful Xmas and a great New Year and also a restful break.

Fingers crossed our weather stays on a normal summer path but with less wind than we have currently been having, would be nice.

 

Welcome to Bruce Davies who is a first year bowler , who has played in a couple of haggles at the club already.

Bruce, your challenge is to try and master the game of bowls, good luck to you in that endeavour. 

Also joining us from the Milford club is Craig Hughes, he also has played in some haggles and tournaments last year.

He is a year 3 bowler and is keen to play in 1-5 competitions.

Welcome Craig.

 

We had one team play in the 1-5 Mangawhai Classic fours on December 27^th.  Here is a brief report from Jane Mackay.

Mangawhai Junior Classic 2025

Mairangi Bay entered the team of Jane Mackay, Robyn Pittams, Graeme Storey and Annie McGrath.

Our new shirts attracted compliments and the weather was nearly ideal for bowling. Mangawhai provided stunning food afterwards and their organisation was exemplary. The event was well supported – one local club had 5 teams of juniors entered.

In the games, we had more than our fair share of tough draws – the singles game was particularly a tough ask. The upshot was our 1 win and a couple of close losses but undaunted we put our name forward to enter a team or two next year.

Jane

 

Milford 5000 is being held at the Milford Bowling club on Saturday/Sunday 24^th/25^th January. We have two teams entered.

Hanaan Shahwan, Glenda Rountree and Annie McGrath.

Flora Macdonald, Barry Baillie and Rosemary Nicol.

Good bowling to these teams.

This is a top class tournament and would be a good one to go and watch and support our teams.

 

A reminder that once a month, normally on Tuesdays, the club runs a single entry tournament.

Also on Tuesdays are Jackpot Pairs and Club days, both being single entry half day events.  Check the dates in the Club Handbook.

These are a good competition’s to enter and you will be then paired up with other members to make a triples or a fours team, depending on numbers.

There is also the Saturday haggle, which is proving very popular and competitive,  again check your handbooks and enter online.

 

Coming up there will be a number of interclub events, for which the selectors will be asking for names, look out for that information on the notice board and the website.

 

Important dates for 1-5 bowlers coming up are:

You all need to be considering playing in these championships.

You will need to be wearing club colours or whites for all these events.

For our club champs, entry closing date will be on the Wednesday prior to the event at 5pm.

Club Championships.

Saturday/Sunday 14^th/15^th February, Any Combination(A/C) 1-5 Pairs.

Saturday/Sunday 21^st/22^nd February, Men`s and Women’s 1-5 Singles events.

Saturday/ Sunday 7^th/8^th March, First Year Singles, Men`s and Women`s. So all you newbies make sure you have that date in your bowls diary.

 

Entries for North Harbour Championship events below, close on the Friday three weeks before the event. Enter online on the NHB website.

Saturday/Sunday 11^th/12^th  April, 1-5 BNH INTERCLUB. This is a selected event, the selectors will call for names closer to the time.  Entry is made by the club.

Saturday/Sunday 25^th/26^th April, BNH, Any Combination 1-5 Pairs.

Saturday/Sunday 1^st/2^nd  May, BNH, Men`s and Women`s 1-5  Singles.

 

Skills coaching recommences on Friday 30^th January at 9.30am to 11.00am with Theresa, Phil and Sheryl.

This can include bowling arm coaching if required.

No coaching Friday 6^th  February Waitangi Day.

Then

Friday 13^th  February.

Friday 20^th  February.

Friday 27^th  February.

 

Make the most of your current summer bowls season, we are less than four months to go.

I suggest you play as many of the above listed tournaments as you can.

Even if you feel you are not good enough, this is the place to learn.

All first years bowlers should be playing in the first year tournament, you only get one opportunity to play in this event, in your bowling career.

In all events you have the opportunity to have your name engraved on the club trophies’ and on the  honours board.

 

Go out there have some fun and learn.

 

Please find below a rules joke to start the year!

It is a bit of a crappy one though.

 

Alan Daniels

1-5 Convenor.

 

 

​ The rules must be obeyed – rule 28A Our Old George Jones, of lawn bowls fame, was always quoting the Rules of the Game. One day he hailed me an answer to give, and I’ll never forget it as long as I live. An old jersey cow had strolled onto the green and dropped the best cowpat that I’ve ever seen. It was only a metre away from the jack. His bowl got stuck in it, and he wanted it back. ​

​ I said, “You can’t have it back, so don’t be a fool. If you touch that bowl now you’ll be breaking a rule.” He rushed to his bag and took out his book, turned over the pages and had a good look. Then he said, “But hey, there is nothing to say that I can’t get my bowl back and continue to play.” I said, “Listen here, don’t cause a commotion, Rule 28A says you can’t interfere with a bowl in motion!” ​