Hi everyone, Welcome to the new bowls season (2025/2026).
My wife believes there is no difference between Summer and Winter seasons, they all just roll into one another!!
I believe she is not alone in saying that.
We have four new 1st year bowlers joining us this year , Maureen Davenport, Lance Govender, Joe Thompson and Hanson Wu.
Welcome to you all, your challenge is to try and master the game of bowls, good luck to you in that endeavour.
Another new member is Robyn Pittams, a year four bowler who has joined us from the Takapuna bowling club, welcome to you.
Re-joining us as year three bowlers are Christine and Joe Tordeich, who had a year off from full membership last year. Welcome back.
The following players move out of 1–5 year players and into 6-8 year players – Ralph Cullen, Graeme McGregor and Michael Thomas.
The following players leave the 6-8 year bowlers and officially become Seniors – Judi Farkash, Louise Ball, Joy Finney and Pat Smith.
Gaye Horne leaves us and moves to Amberley, but I’m sure there will be regular visits going forward.
A special shout-out to a number of our people:
Our new greenkeeper, Brendon Kelly and his assistant Kyler, who started last year have completed their first year with the club.
They are very happy with the current condition of our greens and expect us to be playing on the grass in a few weeks.
Our club captains – Remain the same from last year, women’s captain Jo Baxter along with our men’s captain Barry McCrystal. You can talk to them at any time if you have any questions or concerns.
Our fully qualified coaches – Ian Coombe, Theresa Rogers and Sheryl Wellington.
Our Match committee teams Alan Daniels (Convenor), Elaine McClintock, Sheryl Wellington, Gerd Hutcheson, Allan Langley and Leon Wech.
Our Umpires – Sheryl Wellington, Lorna Donald.
Our Selectors – Alan Daniels (Convenor), Leon Wech, Colleen Rice, Sheryl Wellington, Elaine McClintock and Allan Langley.
You will need to impress these selectors (or pay them) to make our selected teams .
The new season officially starts this coming Sunday 14th September.
We will have some bowls and an opening ceremony and afternoon tea, all starting at 1.00pm.
Enter online, if you are unsure how to do that contact Russell Parkinson or myself.
Please wear whites/club colours.
If you do not have whites, wear something that is close to white or light in colour.
Please bring a plate for the afternoon tea.
We are hoping we will have the new handbook available on Sunday.
The handbook has all details of all events for the year.
This is your bowls bible, no excuse to say you did not know an event was happening, highlight the events you are keen to play and enter online.
We will advise on the website if there is any changes to the programme.
You should have paid your subscription fee by now, if not please arrange to do this, you need to be fully paid up to play in our club championships.
For club uniforms contact Sandra Coombe – Sandra@coombe.net.nz.
The club is looking to re-design our club uniform but that will probably not happen until early next year.
For all first-year bowlers, the club provides use of our club bowls for three months and after that you will need to purchase your own set of bowls.
This also applies to any full membership bowler using club bowls.
We are a volunteer organisation, so if you are keen in helping out in some way, just let a member of the board know.
The club needs volunteers, please don’t be afraid to get involved.
Events coming up are:
Arvida monthly triples starting Tuesday October 7th, if you are not in a team let Theresa Rogers know and she will try and get you in one.
Men and Women Handicap singles Sat/Sun 4/5 October.
Men and Women Handicap pairs Sat/Sun 11/12 October.
Open Consistency Singles Sat/Sun 18/19th October.
Updated Handicaps will be up on the board in the clubrooms in the next two weeks.
Newer bowlers begin with a 10 handicap start and then they are graded down on experience and ability.
I encourage you to enter these tournaments for experience and a bit of fun.
The Bays cup is our own Mairangi Bay tournament for 1-5 year bowlers on Labour Day Monday 27th October.
This is a 2x4x2 any combination pairs tournament.
It is a popular tournament with bowlers from other clubs so set up your team and enter online.
We have a ‘Have a go’ day, on Sunday 28th September, if you know someone friend/family, that may be interested in bowls, invite them along.
Have a great 2025/2026 bowling season, here`s hoping we will have a great summer this season and the rain and wind stays away.
May your bowls go where you expect them to!!!
Wrong biases are a gold coin donation to Hospice.
Any questions do not hesitate to contact me.
Alan Daniels
1-5 Convenor