No 21

05/02/2012

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TONY BLAKE
Many are still coming to grips with the sudden passing of Tony Blake. As a bowler it didn't take long to know who Tony was. He was always approachable, he took an active role within the club and he was a regular weekday competitor. He loved telling stories (the accent made the story more authentic), he enjoyed playing on the meaning of words, he had a dry sense of humour, he was a keen and competent bridge player and an able bowler with titles to prove it.

A service for Tony was held on Friday at the Taradale Club and in my years as a member there I have never seen so many in that building. His wide range of interests meant he touched a lot of people - education, bowls, bridge, drama, Rotary, rugby and horse racing - and the numbers present bore testimony to the respect others felt for Tony.

We knew him well, saw him often and will treasure the memories each of us has of him. We are sad we didn't have the chance to say goodbye and we extend to his wife, Bev, and their family our deepest sympathy in their loss.

Rest in peace, Tony.

This joke is for Tony ........

 Two Irishmen were wandering down a road when they see a notice tacked on a tree.
'Tree fellers wanted' the sign said.
One Irishman says to the other, "Look Paddy, if there had been one more of us we could have got that job!"
 
EARTHQUAKE TOURNAMENT
This event was scheduled for last Friday but was cancelled because of Tony Blake's funeral.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
Not everyone enjoys meetings so the large number who attended the Special General Meeting this morning was a tribute to the loyalty and vitality of our club. Peter Turnbull, Dave Jones and others had spent many hours writing the "Rules and Objectives of Bowls Taradale". The professional presentation, full discussion and subsequent adoption of this new code of practice should stand our members in good stead for years to come. Many thanks to all who helped make this possible; Peter Turnbull, Dave Jones, Dave Porteous (for his legal advice), Bernard Hickey and Cynthia Green from the mother club, Lucky Roberts, Dave Kaye, Peter Fletcher, Robin Oates and others whom I don't know or recall but whose input was important.

The "Rules and Objectives of Bowls Taradale" was passed unanimously.
It now replaces the "Constitution" that went before.
MEN'S JUNIOR PAIRS
Men's Junior Pairs round were to be played on the 11th Feb but due to player commitments to HB they will now be played on
Sat March the 17th
at 8.30am
HB Men's Open Fours - played last weekend
(Bowls HB website)
Dave Stevenson, Barry Hanlen, Malcolm Stockwell, D. White - Napier
R/up
C. Bell, Ken Smith, Graeme Wagg, K. O'Neill- Napier
     
CAR RADIO
I had the radio on in the car this morning and heard this.

What's the quickest way to get off an Italian cruise liner?
Follow the captain.
 
Meanwhile one of our bowlers sent me this latest piece of news ..

Italian Cruise ship captain Francesco Schettino
began his new job as a bus driver yesterday…
 
Black Jacks Squad Announced
Bowls NZ website
The squad is comprised of Val Smith (United, Nelson), Jan Khan (Beckenham, Canterbury), Jo Edwards (United, Nelson), Leanne Curry (Frankton Railway, Waikato), Mandy Boyd (Johnsonville, Wellington), Genevieve Baildon (Hillcrest, Waikato), Clare McCaul (Silverstream, Wellington), and Jan Shirley (Canterbury, Canterbury), Richard Girvan (Onehunga, Auckland and Nelsen Bay, N.S.W), Ali Forsyth (Havelock, Marlborough and Taren Point, Sydney), Dan Delany (Onehunga, Auckland), Tony Grantham (Onehunga, Auckland), Shaun Scott (North East Valley, Dunedin), Matt Gallop (Cabramatta, Sydney), Greg Ruaporo (Hillsboro, Auckland), Andrew Kelly (Canterbury, Canterbury), Shannon McIlroy (Stoke, Nelson), and Blake Signal (Stokes Valley, Wellington).
VERY NEW BOWLERS
This is a reminder that new bowlers are required to have four individual coaching lessons before they can attend roll-ups. This will help ensure they have time to learn the basics of delivering a bowl, the fundamentals of bowling etiquette and a rudimentary knowledge of how a game is played. If you are new to lawn bowls please ask a committee member who will arrange for someone to contact you concerning coaching lessons.

"Old bowlers" please be supportive of all our new members, make each feel welcome and encourage them as much as you can. The future of our club depends on a steady influx of new players.

ANSWERING MACHINE
Hi. I am probably home, I'm just avoiding someone I don't like.
Leave me a message and if I don't call you back, it's you.

Friendship is not one big thing

It is a million little things

After the service a little boy tells the pastor: "When I grow up I will give you money."

"Thank you," the pastor says, "but why?"

"Because Dad says you're one of the poorest preachers we've had."

COACHING TIP

SLOW AND FAST GREENS
 The speed of a green is indicated by the number of seconds a bowl takes to cover the distance from delivery until it comes to rest 27m from the front of the mat.

On fast greens, where the surface is dry and smooth, the arc travelled by the bowl will be large so the bowl will take longer to cover the distance, perhaps 15 to 20 seconds.

On slow greens, where the ground may be soft and the grass more lush, the arc will be more narrow and the bowl will cover a more direct route to the jack taking less time, perhaps 12 seconds.
 

QUESTION: Is there a set place where each member of a team should stand during a game?

Law 36.1       Position of Players in relation to rink of play 
 Players at the mat-end of the rink who are not delivering a bowl should stand at least 1 metre behind the mat.

Players at the head-end of the rink and who are not controlling play should stand:

·         behind the jack if they are members of the team which is in possession of the rink;

·         behind the jack and away from the head if they are members of the team which is not in possession of the rink;

·         on the surrounds of the green if the jack is in the ditch; or

·         well clear of the head if it is not possible to stand on the surrounds.

If at any time you feel like sitting down DO NOT sit on the bank as this is the official playing field.
 

LAWS  TIP

ETIQUETTE TIP

AVOID CLIQUES
 The friendliness of Bowls is destroyed by members who form exclusive groups.
Such behaviour
  • is not in the best interests of the club,
  • is opposed to the etiquette of the game,
  • and should be avoided.

Last time I mentioned this I almost got lynched.

  • The lynching party's names have been taken
  • Their photos are about to go on the notice board
  • Their bowls emblems have been noted
  • They will be forbidden to play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons!!!
  • ..... however I am open to bribes!!

 

 

 

 

ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE THE CURRENT CLUB CHAMPIONS

BRUCE FERRICK IS UNAVAILABLE

 

FAST CLERIC
A priest is pulled over for speeding.

As the policeman writes out the ticket the priest says; "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."

The cop hands the priest the ticket and says; "Go and sin no more."
SPARC becomes Sport New Zealand
As of Wednesday February 1 SPARC, the government agency responsible for sport and recreation, is changing its name to Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ). There’s no change to what they do – "it’s still our aim to get more Kiwis into sport, more kids into sport and, through High Performance Sport New Zealand, more winners on the world stage." The new name - Sport NZ - is all encompassing of sport and recreation activities, and recreation remains a key focus for us.
WANTED - about six lengths of old water/gas pipes to build a frame for my climbing plants.
I welcome suggestions where I can locate sufficient pipes about 2.5 m in length, and about 2.5cm in diameter
to help hold up my beans and cucumbers and tomatoes.
Any condition - anywhere - provided that they are not still in the ground!!

Many thanks
Peter Turnbull

When it comes to going after what you love in life
don’t take no for an answer
 

GALA COMING SOON

  • The Gala benefits all members of our bowls club 
  • Please leave items such as books and small items of bric a brac in the club shed.

For more information
please ring Sue or Maree.

Listening to the Ground
Two cowboys come upon an Indian lying on his stomach with his ear to the ground. One of the cowboys stops and says to the other, "You see that Indian?"

"Yeah," says the other cowboy.

"Look," says the first one, "he's listening to the ground. He can hear things for miles in any direction."

Just then the Indian looks up. "Covered wagon," he says, "about two miles away. Have two horses, one brown, one white. Man, woman, child, household effects in wagon."

"Incredible!" says the cowboy to his friend. "This Indian knows how far away they are, how many horses, what colour they are, who is in the wagon, and what is in the wagon. Amazing!"

The Indian looks up and says, "Ran over me about a half hour ago."

One of our members sent me the following picture during the week.
Tony's passing reinforces how fragile life can be.
The story below helps us put other aspects of life in perspective
 

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