Auckland Bowling Club organised the recent Year 1-5 Singles Champ of Champs tournament. Held over Kings Birthday weekend, it attracted a strong field of 70 Junior players from 12 centres, competing across five venues in what proved to be a highly enjoyable and well-run event.
A huge credit must go to Paul Neazor, whose organisation ensured everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The tournament was played in sections of four, with section winners progressing through to the finals on the second day. The format provided plenty of competitive bowls and kept the pressure on throughout.
Julie Chhour and I were proud to represent Mairangi Bay and were drawn in different sections, with me playing at Remuera and Julie competing at Auckland. While neither of us managed to qualify for the post-section play, we both thoroughly enjoyed the experience. In my section, two of us finished equal with two wins, and unfortunately I narrowly missed progressing on differential.
What stood out most was the quality of the competition and the atmosphere surrounding the event. Despite the high stakes and the sizeable prize money on offer, every player we encountered was friendly, professional and highly competitive in the best sense of the word. It was a terrific showcase of our sport.
Adding to the enjoyment were the tasty morsels provided at morning tea during section play. While neither of us progressed to the finals, Julie returned on Sunday to support the remaining 16 players at Auckland BowlIng Club and reports that the food, atmosphere and standard of play were all outstanding. The finals day showcased some fantastic bowling and was a fitting culmination to the tournament.
The tournament concluded with Crawford Blair (Glendowie) defeating Debbie Bishop (Thames) in the final to claim the championship title and the winner’s cheque of $1,000. The runner-up received $500.
Congratulations to both finalists, and sincere thanks again to Paul Neazor and the many volunteers who contributed to a successful event.
Report by Barry Baillie