Early start

Press, 24 September 1980, Page 26

Early start

Many of Christchurch’s leading lawn bowlers will face each other in serious competition earlier than usual this summer.

For a variety of reasons, not the least of them being to avoid clashes with other tournaments at the height of the season, the Papanui Lions Masters event has been brought forward to the week-end of October 18 and 19. This event, which is open only to championship winners, has been held in each of the last three years on, or about, Waitangi Day in February. The new date makes the tournament the first of any significance in the Christchurch centre, heading off the traditional starting point, the Burwood - Shirley - Linwood clubs’ combined triples at Labour week-end.

Papanui has also changed the conditions of its tournament. In the past it has been an open entry with the first 32 accepted. However, this time it will be run on an invitation basis, with the host club providing just four teams. Among the prominent skips who have accepted invitations are Neville Poole (Sumner), Travis Coup (Kaiapoi), a former winner, Morris Nairn (Leeston), Peter Rose (Bumside), Tom Dixon (South Brighton), lan McAllister (Dallington), and Alan Roberts (Cashmere). The format has also been varied. Instead of section and post-section play there will simply be six games of 18 ends and six wins might be required to carry off the first prize to the value of $2OO, plus the Lion Trophy.