Top prize at stake

Press, 21 October 1989, Page 19

Top prize at stake

The topsy turvy nature of the Christchurch bowling season, affected as it has been by the weather, is reflected in the major Labour Day Week-end tournament. The Postßank Super Bowls preliminaries must certainly be the most sought after title before the nationals, yet it comes at a time when few bowlers have had the chance to more than roll up a few casual bowls.

With its prize of an entry to the World Indoor Singles Championships in England from February 21 to March 4, it may well be more highly prized than a national titie. So, it is an irony that it should come at a time when few bowlers would have been able to get sufficient match play, even if the weather had been kind.

Gary Lawson, the national singles champion and a New Zealand representative this year, has been invited to the tournament, as has Bruce McNish, a two-time fours national title winner. Leo Leonard, from South Canterbury, formerly a motor racing driver, has already won a preliminary tournament to gain entry. There are plenty of notable bowlers seeking to become the finalist from this weekend’s tournament which starts this morning at eight Christchurch clubs. From Lawson's Sydenham club there is his father, Stan, a former national titleholder, while from McNish’s Spreydon club there are Terry Darby, Roger Norton and Jonathon Flint, all of whom performed heroic deeds in the club’s highly successful 1988 season.