Fifteen Years Ago.
April 2009.
The Triple Gs are formed; i.e. Green’s Goldcard Group.
This group from SAM started meeting each Wednesday at the club and using the free bus service would take off to places unknown and terrorize the pubs and pokies.
Occasionally gambling and drinking would be interrupted and unwell club members would be visited.
Guests were accepted upon application.
MuzzaWeb adventured with them once; only once!!!!
He survived!!!
18 – 4 – 09
The traditional end of season Memorial Fours were played on a cool day and the Brian Ware skipped team won. Other team members were Margaret McLennan, Tracey Hart and Phil O’Malley.
It was the Brian Ware Show at the end of season later in the evening when he won all four men’s titles.
Fours: R. Ware B. Ware W. Whiting M. Young
Triples: R. Ware B. Ware M. Young
Pairs: R. Ware B. Ware.
Singles: B. Ware.
This was a magnificent performance, the fourth time Brian achieved that.
MuzzaWeb wonders if our own Kelvin Scott or Nathan Glasson could emulate that performance. Fair to say the quality of opposition would be significantly higher than the St. Albans-Merivale opposition.
Thirteen Years Ago.
1 – 4 – 11
New laws which were approved by World Bowls in October 2010 will come into effect in New Zealand on April 1, 2011. Was this date chosen deliberately?????????
Some include:
1] Triples games are 18 ends, regardless of whether it’s two or three bowls. This is to change so that two bowls games will remain at 18 ends, but three bowl triples will be fifteen ends.
2] The option to “give the mat away” will no longer be available. The winner of an end will have to play first in the following end.
3] The skip will now keep the score card in all disciplines.
Ten Years Ago.
23 – 4 – 14
A SAM, now an EP member, club member called in at an Oamaru service station on the return journey from a Central Otago bowling tournament. Obviously things must have gone well there as the mind was on the glories of the past. A small lapse in concentration and a tank of diesel filled up where the 91 should have been. Fortunately there was a workshop attached so the fuel doctor performed the appropriate surgery and replaced the diesel with 91 which allowed the bowler to drive away many more dollars lighter in the pocket than intended!!!!
What happened to the “what goes on tour stays on tour?”
Seven Years Ago.
22 – 4 – 17
Winners of the Watson Shield.
Five Years Ago.
Finals Weekend. April 13 – 14, 2019, @ Woolston Park.
4 Titles!! 
A sea of blue and gold.
Congratulations to our men’s Watson Shield team which won this premier men’s event 3-1 over a strong Rangiora team. After a slow start, Gary Lawson, in the singles, played superb bowls to win his game 25 – 18; Steve Ditfort and Liam Eathorne lost in a tight pairs game, 15 – 20; the triples team of Paul McKinnel, Dave Vujcich (again filling in for Don Baker) and Neil Johnstone got out of the blocks with a significant lead which they held on to wining 26 – 18; and the fours team of Rod Greaney, John Mears, Mat Bassett and Ian Rule were always narrowly in control of their game, playing great bowls to win 20 – 13.
Thanks also to Jonathan Flint and Bruce Humphreys for significant performances during the year in this team. Since the Watson Shield has been the premier men’s event, Elmwood Park has won it 3 years out of 4, a magnificent effort.
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Bev Morel and Sherrie Cottle went down to Allenton, 19 – 21, in the women’s pairs final.
Our Over 60’s Fours team of John Mears, Dave Vujcich (substituting for Don Baker who was ill), Bruce Humphreys and Lois Grey won the title in a nerve-wracking finish. After being 17 – 0 up halfway through the game (16 ends) against a strong Halswell side, the game completely turned around and the last end commenced with our team being only 2 up. John Mears bowled the last bowl of the game with his team 3 down on the head, but produced a superb draw shot to get second shot and win the game.
Congratulations to Stephen Ditfort and Ian Rule who defeated convincingly Leeston 18 – 7 in the men’s pairs final.
Bev Morel, Sherrie Cottle, Chris Kibblewhite and Fiona Frew lost 14 – 15 against Woodend in the women’s fours final.
Tania Woodham went down 13 – 21 to Jenny Anderson of Woodend in the women’s U8 final. A meritorious effort as Tania played with an arm in a sling.
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Rodney Greaney, representing Allenton, lost the men’s triples final, 10 – 21, but won the men’s singles final 21 – 14 against Belfast’s Mark Young.
Rodney played for Elmwood Park in interclub this year, his bowls were exceptional all season.
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Inaugural Champions. Congratulations!!!
Winners of the first Centre Mixed Fours title, a comfortable win over Noel Alexander’s Rangiora team 22 – 10.
John Mears, David Vujcich, Theresa Woodham and Lois Grey.
This was Dave Vujcich’s first Centre title.
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What a season is had been for the Elmwood Park Bowling Club, both pre and post Christmas with unprecedented success. It should be noted that the club has won all of the specifically mixed events showcasing the strength of both men and women in the club. Further the club has won two of the four Premier events, the men’s Watson Shield post Christmas and the Women’s Pennant Fours prior to Christmas.
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17 – 4 – 19
At a recent tournament at Fendalton Elmwood Park kept up its winning ways by taking the top three places. An outstanding result for Elmwood Park at the Fendalton Mixed Pairs Tournament.
1st: Neil & Mary Ann Johnstone 2nd: Pam & Ron Phair 3rd: David Vujcich & Erin Hyde
Four Years Ago.
14 – 4 – 20
Good News!
From Tuesday 14th April urgent maintenance of turf in bowling greens will be permitted under Alert Level 4 restrictions.
Maintenance providers should adhere to the following guidance. In doing so, operators and owners will need to form a judgment as to:
1. How best to apply this guidance to their particular circumstance. |
2. Which of their maintenance activities are genuinely urgent. Operators will be expected to minimise maintenance during Alert Level 4
Good News!
Golf courses and bowling greens will be able to have essential maintenance done during lockdown after concerns that leaving them lie could lead to sub-par conditions.
Turf maintenance had not been considered an essential service, meaning golf courses and other sports turfs, including bowling greens, have been abandoned during lockdowon.
Golfing and bowling organizations voiced concerns that this could lead to irrevocable damage to courses, with many smaller clubs not having the resources necessary to restore courses to par.
Sports and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson said the Government had allowed urgent maintenance to go ahead but only after new guidelines were issued. This would happen after Easter.
We have made it half way through the lockdown.
Three Years Ago.
16 – 4 – 21
Gary Lawson was disqualified by Bowls Canterbury for having an odd bowl.
Gary, at the beginning of the game against Mark Gillespie, realised that he had 3 bowls of one set and 1 of another (the only difference between the bowls being one of non-dimples/dimples.) He spoke to his opponent about this including making the suggestion that he played with another set from the clubhouse or went off home to get his other bowl. His opponent, Mark Gillespie, made it clear that he was totally happy with Gary playing with the bowls as they were and so the game continued. The game was completed with Gary winning and, as we understand it, Gary played with a full set subsequently and won his other games. It was also understand that the umpire officiating, representing Bowls Canterbury, was fully aware of the situation as were most players on the green and that no issue or protest was made at the time or during the day.
It appeared to be the next day or thereabouts that Bowls Canterbury took action.
The club considered that the action taken by Bowls Canterbury did not take into account the strict protest provisions which must be strictly applied and that, in any case, is inappropriate and heavy-handed in what was at worst a technical breach in one game, waived by his opponent.
The decision did not take into account the spirit of the game and from discussions and comment around the bowls fraternity, this is a commonly held view and Bowls Canterbury is seen as acting quite heavy-handed and inappropriately.
The Elmwood Park Bowling Club was fully in support of Gary Lawson’s position and appeal.
It is pleasing to note that Gary’s appeal was upheld.
Elmwood Park has been crowned National Interclub Men’s Sevens champions for the first time at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch.Great news for our club. Our men’s interclub 7’s team, winner of the Bowls Canterbury competition and therefore representing Canterbury, performed brilliantly over four days to beat all other sides in the country in the Bowls New Zealand National Interclub 7’s event.
This was a great team effort and was achieved against some of the best bowlers in the country, with Elmwood Park beating strong Stokes Valley and Stoke teams in the semi-finals and finals at the Burnside Bowling Club. All players performed well , but especially notable was Kelvin Scott’s singles win in the final against world champion singles player, Shannon McIlroy of Stoke.
This means that our club has now won a men’s national 7’s title to go with the women’s win as the Elmwood Bowling Club in 2009.
Stoke were first on the board, with Peter Hodson and Graham Growcott upsetting the previously unbeaten Gary Lawson and Nathan Glasson 20 – 9 in the pairs.
Kelvin Scott then drew Elmwood Park level, handing world champion Shannon McIlroy his only defeat of the tournament in the singles. Scott held on to an early 15 – 5 advantage to beat McIlroy 21 – 19 in a very tense final few ends.
This was a sensational win and now it was up to the fours.
The Elmwood Park four of Lance Pascoe, Paul McKinnel, Liam Eathorne and Steve Ditfort sealed the title for the Canterbury champions, beating the Stoke quartet of Robbie Reed, Jimmy Pugh, Don Ambrose and Chris Alldred 18 – 13. An impressive performance considering they were down 2 – 10 at one stage early on.
[Delayed from 2022.]
One Year Ago.
14 – 4 – 23
In the monthly tournament an old set of wooden bowls was used by Roy Scott.
Roy Scott in action.
He was using his grandfather’s set of wooden bowls. They are almost a hundred years old.
Beautifully preserved, they performed well.
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14/16 – 4 – 23
The chance of the threepeat would have been great motivation for the men’s 7s team but it never eventuated.
Still a great effort by both teams, we should be proud of the fact that the Canterbury reps came from the one club. A great achievement.
Men: Singles: L W L W W Pairs: W W W W W Fours: W W L W W They were beaten in the quarter finals by Temuka.
Women: Singles: L W L L W Pairs: W W W W W Fours: L W D L W Finished 4th in their section.
It was the first time that our new uniform was on display. Three models showing the new unifor
The 2023 Oceania Challenge was held from 14-17 April at Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club, Auckland.
Hosted at the Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club in Auckland, the 2023 Oceania Challenge included 19 teams from Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Norfolk Island, Niue, Fiji, Cook Island, Tokelau an U26 New Zealand side (both men and women) and Aotearoa Maori contingent. The format saw players selected in singles and fours, and triples and pairs combinations.
The four-day showpiece, which was a World Bowls sanctioned event, saw players taking on fours and singles, and triples and pairs – with two sections playing five rounds.
The top team in each section played for the Gold/Silver medal, while the runner-ups in each section will contest the Bronze medal. Adding to the hype there was a trophy for the best-performed country at the event (combined men and women), with points awarded for finishing places in each section, and extra points for medal games in each discipline.
To conclude the event, the Aotearoa Maori team were awarded the overall winners – reflecting a hefty medal haul (four gold, two silver and two bronze) and team effort throughout the four-day showpiece.
18 – 4 – 23
A busy time for Elmwood Park’s Emily Belton. Straight from her involvement in Australia in the Multi Nations Tournament to being involved with the NZ U26 team in the Digicel Oceania Challenge recently held in Auckland.
22 – 4 – 23
Quite a nostalgic day today as this was the final time games would be played at Donald Place. Since amalgamation in 2017 and especially the past year when the Heaton Street complex was being built, it has been a faithful servant for the Elmwood Park Bowling Club.
Today was closing day and the traditional end of year State of Origin tournament took place.
Two games [fours] of 7 ends played in warm conditions.
1 Otago/Southland K. Nicholson A. Reid R. Scott P. Nicholson
2 UK J. Stenhouse MA Johnstone S. Herd D. White
23 – 4 – 23
What a day! All our teams competing today won and will now participate in the finals next Saturday, again at Riccarton Racecourse. Congratulations to all five teams.
Contemplating. Triples team defeated Club Redcliffs 18 – 11.
Singles player Nathan Glasson defeated Mat Bassett [Allenton] 21 – 8.
Women’s fours: B. Morel 26 – W. Watson [Allenton] 9
Women’s pairs: J. Shirley 24 J. Adams [Belfast] 11
Men’s fours: N. Glasson 21 N. Kavanaugh [New Brighton] 9
Around 30 members were at the final Friday night at Donald Place. While especially for the ex SAM members a rather sad and nostalgic time, it was also a time of exciting expectation to finally be able to move to the new clubhouse at Heaton Street.
What a Day!!! 
29 – 4 – 23 Champion of Champions Finals Day.
Five events, four wins was a great achievement and showed why the Elmwood Park Bowling Club is one of the strongest clubs in Canterbury.
Thank you to the many members who came to support the play
Nathan Glasson won his singles 21 – 10 against Joseph van der Pennen [Bowls Papanui]
Nathan Glasson, Gary Lawson and Ricky Cook defeated the Rohan Ware Christchurch team 19 – 6.
Gary Lawson, Kelvin Scott, Nathan Glasson and Ricky Cook defeated Phil Connolly [Club Redcliffs] 22 – 9
Bev Morel, Jan Shirley, Friona Frew and Tania Woodham defeated Gill Abel [Christchurch] 18 – 11
In pairs, Christchurch’s Donelda Scott defeated Jan Shirley and Tania Woodham 17 – 8.
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. Player of the day would have to have been Nathan Glasson who won three titles. Great effort Nathan, well done.
