Though they have been part of North Harbour’s bowling scene since 2011, the centre’s pennants competitions will have a fresh look in the coming 2018-19 season.
Driven by centre president Gary Stevens and vice president, Garry Banks, the pennants for the new season starting on September 29 will continue over several weeks, on a home and away basis, until early December.
There will be one game played each Saturday over 21 ends, using the same team formations of past seasons… nine-player teams divided in three line-ups and playing two bowl triples.
If the enthusiasm shown by Stevens and Banks can be transmitted to all participants the revamped pennants should be a major success. Depending on the entries from clubs there will be a number of men’s and women’s divisions and again mixed divisions, particularly for those clubs with smaller membership.
The chance to expand the pennants has been taken because of Bowls New Zealand revising its programme and scrapping some traditional events. But Stevens and Banks emphasise it was always the intention, when pennants were first played, to have something of the concept that is now being tried.
What is being introduced, both administrators point out, has been the product of feedback from clubs to the centre’s detailed questionnaire. This indicated a strong preference for one game a day with the “roll-up” type of player unable or unwilling to commit to playing all day.
Stevens says that pennants originated in Australia, “where it has been a popular and premier event bought into by all bowlers who can play competitively against similarly matched players from other clubs.” When introduced to Harbour, pennants were, he adds, “an immediate hit.” Today pennants are Bowls North Harbour’s most popular and heavily supported event and last season there were 450 players spread among the 10 grades.
While each grade earns the same recognition the new season’s men’s and women’s premier divisions will have the added incentive of each of the winning teams being awarded a centre title, which will count towards a gold star and Bowler of the year points. However, a minimum number of appearances will be applied.
As has been the case in previous seasons, there will be a finals day at the one venue, scheduled for Sunday, December 9, at which it is hoped there will be a carnival atmosphere and good crowd support.
Stevens says there will be a debrief at the end of the competitions and because it is appreciated some flexibility will be needed while the new format “beds down.” In some cases, where clubs might have limited numbers, composites will be allowed and in the mixed divisions none of the line-ups can be entirely one gender.
Banks also hopes to have a separate competition for retirement villages, pointing out their bowls involvement should be seen as a positive for clubs rather than, as some seem to believe, a negative.
But rather than 21 ends this competition will be over just five weeks with 10-end games.
In the 2017-18 seasons Birkenhead and Browns Bay were the respective men’s and women’s premier winners. Interest will be high as to whether they will retain their titles, especially as there has been considerable comings and goings among several clubs. Orewa, for instance, has gained, among other stars, the accomplished Elaine McClintock from Browns Bay and another gold star holder from that club, Anne Dorreen, has moved to Takapuna.
