Big programme ahead for Taranaki bowlers

Grant Hassall

Photo: Sean Prinsloo and Nigel Berry, Bayleys Real Estate Hugh Moss junior pairs winners in 2021, will be involved in the under-eights selection on October 10. They are pictured after their victory in March with sponsor, Dean File, and Taranaki president, Ian Andrews.

Taranaki bowlers are eyeing up an appetising new season, with clubs around the province now open.

In addition to all the regular fixtures, Taranaki will also host the Dominion fours and mixed pairs in late February and early March. Like the Open fours in January, a large visiting contingent is expected.

With such a full programme, a number of players have already commenced firm preparations and training.

Leading the charge have been Aidan Zittersteijn, Bruce Hall and Dean Elgar, who won the New Zealand preliminary of the Ultimate Bowls Challenge at New Lynn in August. The victory gives them an invitation to the A$500,000 Australasian finals which are scheduled to be held, Covid-19 permitting, in Melbourne in mid-December.

The Revital Fertilisers Taranaki selectors, Allan Batley and Janice Ropitini, have also had some training sessions ahead of the first official fixture, against Wanganui, on November 13.

Meanwhile, an exciting fresh initiative for the new bowls season has seen 36 players picked for a Taranaki eight-years-and-under selection event.

The competition, with 18 men and 18 women, will take place at the Stratford-Avon club on October 10, commencing at 9.30am.

Bowls Taranaki identified that while there has been an increase in junior (five years and under) competitions, there was currently nothing on the centre programme for those with eight years or fewer experience in the game.

That is despite the Revital Fertilisers Taranaki representative team involving two fixtures for those from the eight-years-and-under group.

Expressions of interest from clubs saw over 80 players put their hand up for the new event.

“Given that this is the first year of the competition we have limited it to 36. But we very much have an eye for the future and will be gathering feedback from the event,” Bowls Taranaki chairman Grant Hassall said.

The selected players are:

Men: Bruce Lilley (West End), Bruce Colgan (West End), Steve Temperton (West End), Evan Jones (Fitzroy), Simon Rowe (Fitzroy), Paddy Deegan (Opunake), Levi Davis (Opunake), Steve Sabine (Inglewood), Kerry Mullan (Tower), Mark Hawken (Tower), Doug Clark (Manaia), Robert Clark (Manaia), Sean Prinsloo (Hawera Park), Nigel Berry (Hawera Park), Luca Dobson (Hawera Park), Hohepa Murray (Vogeltown), Kurt Smith (Oakura), Mike Baldwin (Lepperton). If unavailable, contact Garry Murfitt on 022-598-1097.

Women: Judy Fox (Manaia), Denielle Scown (Manaia), Shelley Clark (Manaia), Rita Davey (Opunake), Julie Hemahema (Opunake), Angela Debique (Opunake), Karen Wallace (Opunake), Geneva Barnard (Tower), Gail Burrows (Inglewood), Gloria Wolfe (Waitara), Norma Jane (Waitara), Cheryll Sharrock (Paritutu), Shelley Baldwin (Lepperton), Tina Quilter (Lepperton), Anne Potaka (Lepperton), Judy Crawford (Fitzroy), Margaret Lister (West End), Debra Kalin (West End). If unavailable, contact Janice Ropitini on 027-449-0734.

In addition to the under-eights, Bowls New Zealand hall of fame member, John Murtagh, conducted his first session with this season’s Vic Blance development squad members on Sunday. The players involved in the programme for this season are: Levi Davis (Opunake), Steve Sabine (Inglewood), Nathan Goodin (Rahotu), Jimmy Quay (Okato), Mike Baldwin (Lepperton), Denielle Scown (Manaia), Shelley Clark (Manaia), Gloria Wolfe (Waitara), Shelley Baldwin (Lepperton) and Judy Crawford (Fitzroy).