What has become an annual event took place on the cotula green today, the Greenkeeper’s Mixed Triples Gala.
The green was in fine order thanks to Green Superintendent Neville Winiata and Green Keeper, Tony Jones. It took some players awhile to adjust their bowl’s speed as for some time, the green has been holding, but today it was a pleasure to play on.
A surprise to many players was that Tony had organised lunch as well this year; usually he puts on a meal late in the afternoon, something that he has done over the last few seasons. Our thanks to him and his team of workers, who helped prepare the meals and also to those who helped clean up the kitchen area after the event.
Some interesting play throughout the day, some that caught my eye/ears as follows:
- A player drew the shot and the partner called out from the other end, “You’re the man.” I would have thought Rob would have known what sex Christine was.
- Trevor Turnbull played skip in his team’s last game and showed novice enthusiasm at the end of the game. I had finished my game and was moving from the green when I heard him call out to his brother that as they had the shot and he had the last bowl, he wouldn’t play it. But he did and up it went on the wrong bias. What’s more, you can guess how surprised he was when he saw his opposing skip stand on the mat and drive, hitting the jack into the ditch. I’m not aware how this effected the result of the game, but no doubt it was another part of bowls Trevor became aware of.
- The weather throughout the morning was changeable but at last I noticed that the sun had come out.
- Imagine my surprise when I realised it was a new shirt being worn by Neville and his team.
It seemed to me that wicks were very prevalent today. The most ‘Striking’ one was played by Dianne Short, her last bowl in her game against us. The score was level on the board, we were holding shot and Dianne was attempting to do something about it. On its way, her bowl encountered one of my safety bowls (too dangerous to get near the head was my excuse for its position) wicked off the edge and took off towards the head, and as you will have guessed, took out our shot, winning the game for her team with a …. I wont tell you what I thought about it!!@!!!
At the end of play, only one team had won all its games, making Noel McCutcheon (s), Rex and Alice Spicer the winners of the trophy for this year. Congratulations.
Rex, Noel, Tony, Alice.
The winner’s with the sponsor, Tony Jones.
Second place went to Lodzia (s) and Joe Wnek and Dawn McQuillan with 3 wins and 23 ends.
Third place went to Jeff Jeffrey (s), Lynne Elphick and Don Ogier from the Takaro Club with 3 wins and 22 ends.
(Jeff has supported our club by bringing a team from Palmerston North throughout the winter season and our club thanks him for this.)
It had been a great day, and again, thanks Tony for the day.