First big pro bowls tournament in Chch

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 13

First big pro bowls tournament in Chch

It is three years since professional bowls was introduced in New Zealand, and still there is much debate on the future of the moneyed game. For the top players it is almost certainly here to stay, although it seems doubtful whether even the very best will, in the foreseeable future, be in a position to make a reasonable living solely out of bowls. Things are a little different for the average player. His attitude might be that he will continue to play bowls for the pleasure it brings and a tournament win which brings with it a

cheque is a very acceptable bonus.

Professional bowls is well established in the North Island and those with the time and the inclination can just about map out a circuit to follow through the season. In many cases invitations are necessary, and this does restrict to some extent those who can go after the big money.

There has not been the same rush in the South Island, and the Canterbury centennial tournament this week-end will be easily the biggest money tournament held in the island. Not only does it carry $lO,OOO in cash prizes, but there is a further $lO,OOO in sponsors’ prizes. The sponsors’ prizes will be decided over the first two days of section play. The field will then split into the top 64 teams, which will contest on a knock-out basis the main championship on Monday and Tuesday, and the next 128 will, also on a knockout basis, contest the plate event. There will, in effect, be ony 16 teams, the first eight in the championship and the first eight in the plate, that will share the monetary spoils, and if there is a weakness it could be that nearly all the sponsored prizes will go to the teams which qualify in the top 64 and are, therefore, in line for the big money as well. This argument can be countered by the fact that half the top qualifiers will be eliminated in the first round on Monday, and so they should be deserving of something for their efforts. Of the $lO,OOO at stake the champion four will collect $2BOO and the runner-up $l6OO. There is then a graduated scale down to $l4O each for the seventh and eighth placegetters in the plate. The man behind the Canterbury tournament is Arch Murray, the club’s president and a member of the council of the New Zealand Bowling Association. Mr Murray said this week that the advent of professional bowls made it possible for Canterbury to consider something a little more ambitious than the usual one or two-day

tournaments that clubs hold to mark special occasions. At one stage the club was hoping for close on 300 entries, but it is well satisfied with the 236 that it has received.

“To fill 17 greens is pretty good when it is remembered that only nine or 10 are taken for a big centre event like the preEaster fours,” said Mr Murray.

The timing, too, was, he believes, against a bigger entry. “We thought we might have got more from other parts of the country, but many bowlers have only just got home from the national championships in Dunedin and were unwilling to travel again so soon.” Making the tournament open to club fours only had also put some skips off, and Mr Murray said he knew of a number of cases where skips in small clubs would have come if they had been able to bring in a player or two from another club.

“We could, perhaps, have allowed composite teams from small country clubs, but on the other hand I am sure the reason that many teams have entered is because it is club entries only. Average skips are not interested in entering tournaments where they are going to run into stacked teams and be given a succession of hidings.” Already there is a possibility that the Canterbury tournament might be a forerunner to something permanent. Mr Murray said that there were thoughts being expressed that some-

thing along the same lines could be held annually and so long as four or five of the bigger clubs were prepared to run it he saw no reason why it should not succeed. Canterbury, through its own fund-raising, coupled with the entry fee, has been able to cover the $lO,OOO in cash required, and Mr Murray believes that the other $lO,OOO in sponsorship can be found if people are prepared to make the effort. The major sponsor this time is Countrywide and Mr Murray is especially grateful for their participation. “If you can get one good sponsor, like we have with Countrywide, you are halfway there. Invariably there are people in clubs who are only too happy to pick up many of the smaller sponsorships,” he said. If such a tournament should become a regular fixture, much thought would have to be given to the timing. A date further away from the nationals is desirable, but at the same time the long week-end incorporating Waitangi Day does, have obvious advantages. But no-one, least of all the Canterbury organisers, are looking beyond the next four days at the moment. If the weather is kind the Canterbury club should be well rewarded for both its enterprise and industry in giving Christchurch bowlers a taste of bowls, professional style.