If you consider that Bowls is an old person’s sport, and visualise’ Four Little Old Ladies’ trotting away for a mid-week NICC bowling holiday – think again!   Playing at Kia Toa and Taradale on Monday and Tuesday will be the ‘Modern-day’ Napier RSA combination of working women - Chris Telford, Michelle Robinson, Sheryl Viggers and Liz Campbell, who will surely be competitive, and have every chance of qualifying in the top echelon.  Another local team that could be considered ‘outsiders’, but well worth a wager – is that of Sue Brock’s Taradale quartet:  Maree Turner, Anne Dempsey and promising newcomer Lyn Bowcock.

In such a large event such as this, it is impossible to pick the Skips most  likely to qualify for the final Championship sixteen, but here’s my pick (in alphabetical order): Dawn Adams (Waitomo), Marilyn Constantine (Wanganui East), Norma Gallagher (Mount), Louise Fitness (Taradale), Karen Forrest (Manurewa Cosmopolitan), Wendy Green (Taupo), Jan Jones (Manurewa Cosmopolitan), Liffy Law (Havelock North), Val McEldowney (New Plymouth), Paula Meredith (Johnsonville), Margaret Reed (Mount Maunganui), Alison Rennie (Pukekohe),  Reen Stratford (St Johns, Wanganui), Robyn Wallace (Napier RSA),Glenys Whiteman (Gisborne Cosmopolitan),  Jenny Willis (Tauranga Citizens), Kris Wintle (Mangawhai).  However, I HAVE been known to be very wrong!

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Profile #5

Lillian Tukiri

It is indeed fortunate that Lillian Tukiri (Manurewa Cosmopolitan) now resides in Hawke’s Bay - as her teammates will be very relieved that she will be able to drive herself to the bowling green without any problems.   It is well-known that when this event was held in Johnsonville a few years ago, she (and a teammate), missed the plane from Auckland to Wellington.  However, they won the ‘Plate’ that year – even though their team was nearly a Twosome instead of a Foursome!

Lillian and Bill made the move to Hawke’s Bay three years ago after becoming frustrated at the time spent travelling to and from work each day in Auckland – plus the fact her Son, Daughter-in-law and three grandchildren were already living here.   A very warm welcome from players at Bowls Taradale ensured that they became members there, and she has been a most welcome addition to Bowls Hawke’s Bay representative squad.

She will be playing in the North Island Chartered Club Fours with three great friends Karen Forrest (skip), Nancy Wilson (two), Miriam Pedley (lead),  all from the  Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club.  They have been playing together in the North Island Chartered Club fours since 2004 which was held in Levin at that time.    They will play section play at Omarunui and Taradale ‘A’ with the only local team in that section being: Val Ives, Brenda Falvey, Bernice Neilson and Ivy Graham (Taradale).

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