Upshot - September 2010

ISSUE 14 SEPTEMBER 2010

THE OFFICIAL BOWLS NZ eMAGAZINE

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TURN THE PAGEClick to the outside of the page area (indicated by the grey strips) to turn the page.

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Follow the Black Jacks at the 2010 Commonwealth Games at

www.bowlsnz.co.nz

TEAMWEAR

BOWLS NZ sign new deal with LEGENDZ Teamwear!

Bowls NZ are proud to announce a 4 year partnership with LEGENDZ TEAMWEAR that will change the way you can buy your white wear and teamwear.

The partnership will enable clubs and their members to purchase white wear and teamwear in their local Postie store and be rewarded for it!

Postie has 81 stores nationwide. When your club officially signs up with LEGENDZ TEAMWEAR as their supplier, a range of white wear personalised with your club logo can be stocked locally.

White wear stock will be arriving in store in November.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LEGENDZ TEAMWEAR CONTACT

William LockingRegional Account RepresentativeDDI: 09 820 4409Mobile: 027 224 2944Fax: 0800 802 [email protected]

www.legendz.co.nzSee www.postie.co.nz for store locations

Every sale generates an annual cash rebate to your club of 5%

1982 – The First NZ 1906: ‘All Whites’ First NZ International Bowls Team Tackled Australia 04

This Shirt Is Not A Pay Cheque 05

First Women’s Commonwealth Games Team 06

Bowls NZ Staff Profile: Kerry Clark 07

Criteria For Selection To National Teams 09

Black Jacks Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Player Profiles 10-13

2010 National Bowls Awards

Player of the Year 14Young Player of the Year 14Media Award 15Official of the Year 15TOWER Club of the Year 16Volunteer of the Year 17Coach of the Year 17Administrator of the Year 19Green Keeper of the Year 19

MIB: Want To Fill Your Greens This Season? 21

ClubCheck: Waikanae Bowling Club 22

ClubCheck Gold Award Criteria Tightened 22

Club Scene 23, 25

Bowls NZ Launches New Website 26

Facebook Like 27

Myth Busting 29

The Necessity of Financial Management 30-31

issueTHIS

TEAMWEAR

LEGENDZ is also the new official teamwear supplier for the Black Jacks, and will support them in their journey over the next four years in their quest for Commonwealth Games and World Cup glory.

www.legendz.co.nz

LEGENDZ Teamwear is an exciting New Zealand based grass roots apparel company. With LEGENDZ you can create your own teamwear online, or select from a number of stylish teamwear options. We can cater for all your teamwear needs!


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BOWLSHISTORYA MOMENT IN

1906: ‘ALL WHITES’ FIRST NZ INTERNATIONAL

BOWLS TEAM TACkLEd AUSTRALIA

By Crispin Anderlini

In the days when moustaches

were obligatory, and if you lost by

a large margin you were “passed

through the mangle,” New Zealand’s

first international bowls team, the All

Whites, crossed the Tasman for their

first-ever international event. It was

October 1906, and the 35-man squad

made their way across the ditch to

mark the beginnings of a rivalry that

has lasted more than a century.

Despite rough weather, large

crowds filled the stands as NZ kicked

off the tour by playing South Brisbane

and East Brisbane. Victorious against

both clubs, the All Whites went on

to give a good account of themselves

in the inter-state match against

Queensland the next day; they won by

16 points, and treated the Australian

side to a victory haka.

Four more inter-state matches,

and three Commonwealth matches,

followed for the squad as they went

from Queensland to Tasmania. It was

an extensive itinerary that took seven

weeks and 26 games to complete,

exposing the New Zealanders to

the overwhelming hospitality of the

Australians. By the end of their journey,

the fondly named ‘Maori Islanders’

had weathered the severe heat and

handsomely knocked out Queensland,

New South Wales, Tasmania, and

South Australia. New Zealand won the

entire series on points, and W McLaren

was also victorious in the Australia

Singles Championship.

Although the tour involved a great

deal of travelling, and plenty of bowls,

time was always made to visit local

attractions. It was a bowling expedition

of sorts, that was conducted in a spirit

of good sportsmanship and good

neighbourly relations - an atmosphere

that pervades Trans-Tasman bowling

events to this day.

The 1906 ‘All Whites’ Squad.


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By Dave Edwards

Unlike other sports, and other

athletes, our BlackJacks, those

individuals that represent us on the

world stage, don’t get a pay cheque

for putting on the Black Shirt. They

strive to be the best; they put in the

extra hours, take time off work, all for

the love of our sport, and our country.

They represent the ideals of all that

we love about sport.

If you ever get the chance to talk

to one of our BlackJacks the one

impression you are left with from the

conversation is how proud they are

to represent New Zealand, how much

pride they have in the black shirt. One

of the quotes by a BlackJack that has

stuck with me is “If I am going to die

of heat in India, I am damn well gonna

die in my black shirt.”

The BlackJacks path to the

Commonwealth Games began late

April after the Eight Nation’s event

in India. The buildup began with

individual plans formulated for all

the players to ensure there were no

obstacles off the green that could

inhibit performance on the green.

You truly begin to understand what it

means for our BlackJacks to represent

New Zealand when you realise most of

the time required for the buildup to

the Games has been taken from their

jobs as leave without pay.

The first playing challenge came

for the team when they took on the

Aussies in the annual Trans Tasman

clash in May. This once again was

a very close and intense battle and

gave us a benchmark from which the

team needed to develop. The team

then came together at a camp held

at the Pukekohe indoor stadium at

the beginning of August. The focus

at this camp was getting back on

the greens, checking techniques and

laying the foundations for the rest of

our campaign.

To understand the change in speed

of the greens and the adjustments

required, when at home in New

Zealand our team have had to practice

on Croquet greens, as this has been

the only way they have had to practice

on carpet that is as slow as what they

will face in India.

The next stage of the plan involved

a two week camp in Fiji. This helped

the team to become acclimatised to the

hot conditions they will face in Delhi,

gave them a chance to play on greens

with a similar speed,and the team got

some tough match play. The next stop

was Malaysia. This represented the

final stages for the teams to really test

their development, and ensure they

were on track for India.

This has been a huge buildup for

the players and they have all shown

a massive level of commitment to

delivering results in India. Now it’s time

to show our support, to get in behind

them, and let them know how much

we appreciate all they have sacrificed.

Send your messages of support to

[email protected] or follow their

progress on www.bowlsnz.co.nz


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BOWLSHISTORYA MOMENT IN

1982 – THE FIRST NZ WOMEN’S

COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM

By Crispin Anderlini

The year was 1982, and there were

many firsts around the world. There

was the release of the Commodore 64

computer, the release of the first CD

player by Sony, and Time Magazine

named The Computer as the person of

year – the first time a non-human was

named. For New Zealand though, there

was a more important precedent set:

New Zealand sent it’s first women’s

bowls team to the Commonwealth

Games in Sydney.

Representing your country in a

sport is certainly achievement enough,

but to be the first women’s team to ever

compete at an event is momentous.

World-class bowler Jennie Simpson was

there, along with the late Pearl Dymond

and Joyce Osborne. “It was probably

the biggest moment of my life,” she

recalls with wonder, “that was really

something. I can still remember the

Queen watching us from the pavilion

while we played.”

Having been bowling for only eight

years, Simpson was still somewhat green

in the game and admits it was “quite an

achievement at that stage of life.” She

had consistency, and despite not having

won any national titles, was a highly

talented bowler who had reached many

national finals. “I was ecstatic [when I

was chosen] and it was brilliant being

part of the team. I had never even been

overseas, not for anything, so it was

that little bit more exciting to leave the

country and play in the Games.”

Once they reached Australian

shores, it was time to focus and prove

that New Zealand had some of the best

female athletes in the sport. Initially,

Simpson was “dumbfounded by it all

- all the people and all the countries,”

but put that aside and “got onto the

job” of playing bowls. “It’s always on

your mind, being the first time in the

Commonwealth Games, but you’ve just

got to focus and play the best you can.”

And that’s what the team did, winning

silver in the Women’s Bowls Triples

event and making their name on the

international stage at the largest event

in the bowling world.

Joyce Osborne, Jennie Simpson, Team Manager Hazel Harper and Pearl Dymond.


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BOWLS NZ STAFF PROFILE

kERRY CLARkby Nicole Fearon

With a Commonwealth Games

gold medal under his belt, along with

10 years of managing and coaching

New Zealand teams, Kerry Clark would

rival anyone for the status of a life

member of the sport.

Kerry’s involvement in bowls began

like many of the sport’s members; out

on the green. He first started in 1960

when he went down to the local bowls

club with his parents. From that point

Kerry’s passion for the sport grew as

he progressed and took on numerous

roles within and above his club, as well

as becoming an exceptional player.

Kerry’s dedication has taken him from

success to success as an administrator

and player. His proudest and most

memorable moment in the sport was

winning a gold medal in the men’s

fours at the 1974 Commonwealth

Games.

During this time he played many

of the sport’s top players, including

David Bryant and Willie Wood. The

game Kerry enjoyed most was against

Doug Watson during the 1976 World

Bowls in South Africa. Kerry lost on the

last bowl and placed fourth overall,

with Watson going on to place first.

Kerry’s time as an elite bowler on the

International stage stands up with the

best of the sport and places him in the

ranks of our best bowlers, yet in his

quiet way he denies this and happily

highlights many of the players he

played alongside, against, or coached

as worthy of recognition before him.

After hanging up his New Zealand

uniform he began to manage and coach

the New Zealand teams. His passion to

“introduce new players to the game

and see them succeed” fueled his

love of this role which he held for ten

years, covering three Commonwealth

Games and three World Bowls. The

teams Kerry mentored returned to

New Zealand covered in glory with

multiple medals, in arguably what was

the golden era of our sport.

When asked what the most

significant changes to the sport

have been since he first started

Kerry responds “the move towards

amalgamation, the acceptance of

youth players and the introduction of

different types of bowls”. These are

factors which have completely changed

the sport and held large personal

impacts for Kerry, as he also took an

active role in the development of the

regulations for bowls manufacturing.

Kerry’s commitment in our

sport is unsurpassed. He has been

a gold medalist player, Coach and

manager of gold medal teams,

International Technical Official at

five Commonwealth Games, CEO of

Bowls New Zealand, World Bowls

Board Member, and Past President

and Life Member of the International

Bowling Board. Kerry is respected

and recognised as one of the most

competent sports administrators in the

country.

Kerry’s belief that “it doesn’t

matter what level of the sport you are

playing at, there is always a way you

can become involved” has helped him

progress through the sport. He has

moved from his roles on and alongside

the green to being the CEO at Bowls

NZ, where he uses his knowledge and

passion to improve the sport now and

into the future.

qUICk FACTSCap: #48

Favourite movie: Officer and

a Gentleman

Time in bowls: 50 years

Favourite food: Fish

Dream job: this was! A role

in sport

Dream destination: Hoyann

in Vietnam and Honolulu

Below: Commonwealth Games 1974;

Bottom image: World Bowls 1972,

England.

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SELECTIONTO NATIONAL TEAMS

CRITERIA FOR

The National Selection Panel is subject to the Bowls New

Zealand Selection Regulations in determining the selection

of players to a National Team.

The National Selection Panel may consider the following

factors in determining the selection of Players to a National

Team as follows:

(a) the performances and results of the Player at national and

international level over the two year period preceding

the selection including:

(i) if a member of the High Performance Squad, the

performances (including during training) in the High

Performance Squad;

(ii) performances and results obtained, especially those

at international level,

(iii) consistency of performance/results, especially those

at national and international level;

(iv) versatility of the Player in their ability to play in a

number of positions; ie singles and within pairs,

triples and fours;

(v) ability and versatility in the range of shots;

(vi) ability to adapt to different playing surfaces;

(vii) technical and tactical ability and mental aptitude;

and

(b) Whether the Player demonstrates any one or more of the

values and behaviors outlined in the table below.

In addition, the following attributes are taken into

consideration:

(a) adequate fitness;

(b) regular attendances at domestic and national

tournaments and competitions;

(c) evidence of a positive attitude to training and

commitment to the squad as displayed in previous teams

and squads;

(d) demonstrated compatibility with other players;

(e) neatness in appearance;

(f) demonstrated compliance with the Laws of the Sport,

the Bowls NZ Constitution, Regulations and policies of

Bowls NZ; and

(g) willingness to promote and advocate participation in

bowls and to promote Bowls NZ.

Values Behaviour

Personal ownership/

responsibility

1. Identifying development needs and acting on them

2. Organised commitment to the task

3. No blame no excuses

Respect 1. Respect of agreed team ethos

2. Etiquette

3. Assessment of other’s abilities

4. Acceptance of agreed team behaviours

Honesty 1. No excuses

2. Looking self in the mirror rather than looking out the window

Support 1. Helping each other in all situations

2. Preventing cliques/factions

3. Being there for the team mates on and off the green

Pride 1. Pride in personal team performance

2. Pride in heritage and tradition of those before you

3. Appearance and positive body language

Commitment 1. Commitment to preparation and the Squad programme

2. Commitment to Squad programme values


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Meet our BlackJacks, this is our team who proudly represent us at this year’s Commonwealth Games. They each have undertaken

a huge commitment to pull on the black shirt and silver fern to undertake an unsurpassed level of expectation in terms of time,

training and fitness required to ensure they can meet their goals and ensure we are the best bowling nation in the world.

Many of you would have played against them, they are genuine people, who represent the ideals of traditional athletes,

they hold down full time jobs, train their hearts out, and are proud to be Kiwis. They don’t play for money, but to represent all

of us, to represent this great country, show your support.

For the latest Commonwealth Games results, go to www.bowlsnz.co.nz

delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games

Val SmithWomen’s Singles

DOB: 29th July 1965

Home: Nelson

Best performance: World Championships

– Gold medal in singles and pairs

Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: 2010 Bronze

medal (singles), 8 Nations event, Delhi;

2010 Winners Australian Open (triples), Shepparton, Victoria; 2010

Winners National Fours, Wellington; 2008 Gold medal (singles and

Pairs), World Championships, Christchurch; 2008 Runner up, World

Indoor Singles, Warilla, Australia; 2007 Gold medal (singles), Silver

medal (pairs), Asia Pacific Games, Christchurch; 2007 Semi finalist,

World Indoor Singles, Warilla, Australia; 2005 Bronze medal (pairs),

Asia Pacific Games, Darebin, Melbourne; 2004 Bronze medal

(Triples), World Bowls, Royal Leamington Spa, England; 2003/04

Winners National Pairs, Christchurch; 2003 Gold medal (fours), Asia

Pacific Games, Brisbane; 2003-2010 Member of NZ Team.

Val is the most experienced member of the New Zealand Women’s

Team – with her greatest result being winning the World

Championships Singles title in Christchurch in 2008. She intends to

repeat this result at the next World Championships in Adelaide in

2012. She enjoys being part of a successful team and contributes as

a leader for the newer players. Val is very committed to achieving

at the highest level, as can be seen by the consistent results she has

achieved since first being selected for New Zealand.

Ali ForsythMen’s Singles

DOB: 11th December 1979

Home: Sylvania Waters, NSW, Australia

Best performance: World Bowls Bronze

in Singles and Gold in Team Trophy.

Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: NZ Singles

Winner 2002/3 and 2003/4; World

Champion of Champion Singles Winner 2004; Asia Pacific Singles

Winner in 2007 and 2009; Asia Pacific Triples Silver in 2009; World

Bowls Singles Bronze 2008 and Leonard Trophy Winner (Team

Trophy) 2008.

Ali has always been a specialist singles player and has succeeded on

the world stage many times. His best performance was in winning

the Asia Pacific singles in 2009 – no one else in the event came

close to him. He has also been selected in team events, winning the

triples title at the 2009 Asia Pacific Games.

Ali is the kind of player who always goes

for gold. He gives it his all, and with his

unique style you never know when he is

going to pull a phenomenal shot out of

the bag.

When watching Ali, you never know if

you’re going to be jumping for joy or

biting your nails.

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Andrew ToddMen’s Triples (Lead)

DOB:

16 December 1966

Home: Sydney,

Australia

Best performance:

Gold 2008 World Bowls Fours

Coach: Peter Belliss

Summary of achievements: Gold 2008 World Bowls Fours; Silver 2010 8 Nations Triples; 2010 NZ National Singles Winner; 2009 Champion of Champions Pairs – Port Macquarie Winner; 2009 Burnside Pairs Winner; 2007 NZ Open Singles Winner.

Andrew (Toddy) has a best result of being a team member of the winning fours team at the World Championships in Christchurch in 2008. He is also a consistent winner in singles events, winning the National Singles title in 2007 and 2010.

Toddy is a natural leader within the Black

Jacks, he is calm, efficient and ruthless on

the green. He represents the professional

ethos of this team. When the pressure is

on he steps up, you know what you’re

going to get; a leader who thrives on

competition, loves to win and won’t let

you down.

Shannon McIlroyMen’s Triples (Second)

DOB:

05 January 1987

Home:

Tahunanui,

Nelson

Best performance: Winning all my singles

matches against Australia in the Trans

Tasman test 2009

Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: North East

Valley 10,000 singles champion 2006/2008;

Asia Pacific Championships, silver medal-

fours 2007, silver medal-triples 2009;

World u25 singles runner up 2007/2009;

Australian open singles semi-finals 2009;

National fours champion 2006; numerous

club and centre titles.

Shannon has been a consistent winner

in bowls since his talent was identified

when he was still at school. His best result

as an individual was as the World under

25 singles runner up in 2007 and 2009,

but as a team member his best results are

silver medals at consecutive Asia Pacific

Championships in the fours and the triples.

Richard GirvanMen’s Triples (Skip)

DOB: 30 December 1973Home: Home will always be Auckland. I currently reside in Nelson Bay, NSW, AustraliaBest performance: 2008 World Championships, Gold Medal Men’s Fours. Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: Domestic: 2009 – Won NZ Open Singles; Won NSW State Triples; Won Newcastle Champ of Champ Singles; 2006 - Won Helensvale Grand Prix Singles; Won Helensvale Grand Prix Pairs; 2005 - Won NZ National Fours. International: 2010 – Eight Nations India, Silver Medal Triples; 2008 – World Championships, Gold Medal Fours; 2007 – Asia Pacific Games, Silver Medal Fours; 2006 – Commonwealth Games, 5th Triples; 2005 – Asia Pacific Games, Gold Medal Triples.

Richard (Girvo) is a very experienced New Zealand team member. His best result was to be part of the winning fours team at the World Championships in Christchurch in 2008. He lives in Newcastle, NSW and plays his bowls in Australia now. He has had great success over the last couple of years, and is hopeful of repeating this success at the Commonwealth Games. He also is very keen to defend his World title at the next World Championships in Adelaide in 2012.

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Genevieve BaildonWomen’s Triples (Lead)

DOB:

21 December 1985

Home: Hamilton

Best performance:

Winner World Junior Cup 2009

Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: 2009: NZ Trans

Tasman test team; Winner World Junior

Cup; Winner Hong Kong Classic women’s

singles; NZ Asia Pacific games team; 2010:

NZ Trans Tasman test team; Runner-up

World Junior Cup; 8-nations championship

team; Commonwealth Games team.

Genevieve is at the head of a group of

younger players coming into the NZ

team and performing at a high level

immediately. She won the World Junior

Cup in 2009 and was runner up in 2010.

She already has a reputation for being a

calm, consistent and talented player.

dale LangWomen’s Triples (Second)

DOB:

16 March 1971

Home:

Wellington

Best performance: Trans Tasman 2010 and

reaching a National Pairs final

Coach: Sharon Sims

Summary of achievements: Represented

NZ at the Asia Pacific Games 2009 and the

Trans Tasman; Reached the final of the

pairs and semi-final of the fours at the

2008/2009 NZ nationals.

Dale is a new team member – she

competed at her first international in

August of 2009. She is however a long time

player of indoor bowls and has transferred

into the outdoor game and been identified

as a talented and committed player.

karen CoombeWomen’s Triples (Skip)

DOB: 6 April 1959

Home: Wanganui

Best performance:

7 Wanganui titles

in one season

Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: 2 NZ Singles

Titles; 31 Wanganui Centre Titles;

Represented NZ at Commonwealth Games

in 1998 Kuala Lumpur; Represented

Wanganui for past 15 years, the last 13

years as their Singles representative.

Karen has long been one of New Zealand’s

most successful bowlers in the domestic

game. She did represent New Zealand at

the 1998 Commonwealth games and has

now been selected again to compete as

the skip of the triples team.

Karen’s father was a major part of why

Karen took up bowls, he was her biggest

fan and mentor. When her father passed

away she laid him to rest with her Kuala

Lumpur Commonwealth Games blazer, as

a sign of how much he meant to her.

The Delhi Games gives Karen another

opportunity to live the dream her father

was so proud of. She will replace that

blazer with a Delhi 2010 one, and stride

onto the greens to make this country, her

friends, family and beloved father proud.


Pictured from left: Genevieve Baildon, Val Smith and Dale Lang.

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Richard CollettMen’s Pairs (Lead)

DOB: 2 April 1980

Home: Nelson

Best performance:

National Singles

winner 2009

Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: 2010 Gold

8 Nations Pairs; 2010 National Interclub

Champions; 2009 National Singles Winner;

2009 Gold Hong Kong Classic Pairs.

Richard is in his first year of selection for

New Zealand, however, he has had 2 major

successes already – by winning the 2009

Hong Kong Pairs with Andrew Kelly and

the 8 Nations event in 2010 with Danny

Delany.

danny delanyMen’s Pairs (Skip)

DOB:

04 March 1978

Home:

Onehunga,

Auckland

Best performance: Gold medal at 8 Nations

2010

Coach: Marlene Castle

Summary of achievements: Hyundai

National Open Championship Pairs 2010;

NZ club pairs 2009; NZ Club triples 2008.

Danny was first selected to play for New

Zealand this year – for the Commonwealth

Games trial event, the 8 Nations. At this

event he and Richard Collett won the gold

medal in the pairs event, knocking out the

current world champions from Australia.

He has won 3 national titles which are

considered the hardest national titles to

win in any country; such is the depth of

competition in New Zealand.

Manu TimotiWomen’s Pairs (Lead)

DOB:

16 April 1978

Home:

Whangarei,

Northland

Best performance: Gold and Bronze 2008

Asia Pacific Championships

Coach: Ann Muir/Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements. Numerous

club titles; 9 Centre Titles; 1 NZ Intercentre

Development title; 1 Gold medal – 2008

Asia Pacific Championships; 1 Bronze

medal – 2008 Asia Pacific Championships;

3rd equal World U-25 Indoor Singles

Championships.

Manu’s introduction to International

Bowls was when she placed third equal

in the World U25 Indoor singles title, she

also had great success at the 2008 Asia

Pacific Championships winning a gold and

a bronze medal.

Jan khanWomen’s Pairs (Skip)

DOB:

25 April 1958

Home:

Christchurch

Best performance:

2000 World Bowls Fours Gold Medal

Coach: Dave Edwards

Summary of achievements: Common-

wealth Games 2002 Fours, Bronze;

Commonwealth Games 2006 Pairs, Bronze;

World Bowls 2000 Fours, Gold; World Bowls

2008 Triples, Bronze; Asia Pacific Games

Fours, Gold; Triples, Bronze; Australian

Open 2010 Triples Win; National Titles 7

Wins; Centre Titles 16 Wins; Club Titles 22

Wins.

Jan comes from an illustrious family

of bowlers and certainly continues

this tradition. She already has two

Commonwealth Games medals, two World

Bowls titles, two Asia Pacific medals, and

this year won the triples at the Australian

Open.


Pictured from left: Ali Forsyth and Richard Girvan.

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2010 NATIONAL BOWLS AWARdS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Following in the footsteps of the likes of world number one

Val Smith, Richard Collett has returned the Player of the Year

award to Nelson after a year of bowling highlights.

Still in his first year of selection for NZ’s Black Jacks,

Collett has spent the past year building on his biggest success

to date – 2009 National Singles winner. And being new to the

international scene hasn’t slowed him down at all. From NZ

Singles winner in 2009, the 30-year-old bowler capitalised on

the success and took his winning game overseas to win the

Hong Kong Classic Pairs that same year. At the 2010 National

Interclub Championship the Stoke Men’s Division One Team

took the title, and Collett then teamed up with Danny Delany

at the 8-Nations event in Delhi to win gold in the Pairs.

Community Development Officer Steve Smith says,

“Since he won the National Singles in 2009, he has not only

grown to be a bowler who can compete at the highest level,

but has matured into a young man who demonstrates a high

standard of sportsmanship and respect for his colleagues and

opponents.”

In this age of fair play and sportsmanship, commendations

like this are of prime importance; after all, a true champion is

one who plays hard but plays fair.

It should come as no surprise then that he has been

selected to roll beside Danny Delaney as lead in the Pairs

at the October Commonwealth Games, and chances are the

pair will be bringing home a medal from the searing greens

of Delhi come mid-October.

Whatever the outcome of the Games, this savvy, technical

and top-notch NZ bowler has a long and illustrious career

ahead of him.

Tall, rangy and confident, Andrew Kelly cuts an impressive

figure among New Zealand’s finest players, and has now

been honoured for the past year’s achievements by being

named Young Player of the Year. And what a year it has been

for the 22-year-old Cantabrian. Beginning in August last

year, when Kelly won the PBA Ranking Singles Tournament,

the rising star has moved from strength to strength.

Kelly then teamed up with 2010 Player of the Year

Richard Collett to win gold in the Pairs at the Hong Kong

Classic. It was a monumental win for any player, and augured

well for the young bowler from Canterbury Bowling Club.

Kelly was chosen for the NZ Triples team attending the

8-Nations invitational event in Delhi. The team routed the

competition before being handed the silver after a finals

loss to England. Winning a Singles gold in a blazing, lossless,

clean sweep at the Junior World Cup, Kelly has impressed

on the international and national scene with his skill and

attitude. 8-Nations team mate Jan Shirley is just one of those

watching the bowler with respect: “Andrew’s commitment

to the game is outstanding and his personal growth has

certainly shown in his achievements on the green over the

last year....and he has displayed a mature attitude in both

games he won and lost.”

Endorsements like these go a long way towards revealing

the character of a player, and in Kelly’s case it is the sign of a

champion on the move.

Going into the Commonwealth Games as a new member

of the New Zealand team (Men’s Reserve) then, is just one

more step in what promises to be a long and successful

career for Kelly.

RICHARd COLLETTANdREW kELLY

14

www.bowlsnz.co.nz


MEdIAAWARd

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

Without the media there’s no publicity, and without

publicity a sport languishes in the dark. It’s a non-stop job

promoting a sport, and this year’s Media Award winner,

Alistair McMurran, has done more than his bit to boost the

profile of bowls.

McMurran, a veteran sports journalist for the Otago

Daily Times, has been providing comprehensive coverage

of bowls in Dunedin for nearly 35 years, and has already

won the Media Award three times in the past. Looking

over a selection of his work during the 2009-2010 season,

his commitment to providing full and varied coverage and

his passion for the sport is obvious. From grassroots bowlers

to Black Jacks, stalwart veterans to the greenest of young

bowlers; McMurran has covered them all with the same

attention to detail and understanding of the sport.

The broad scope of his articles include all aspects of the

sport, and the people involved, in accurate and interesting

pieces that have provided invaluable publicity for one of

New Zealand’s most popular sports.

With Dunedin being a centre for competitive bowls in

the country, it is fortunate indeed that a sports journalist

of McMurran’s calibre and experience is right there on the

ground, covering the newsworthy events and personalities

that are part of the bowling world in New Zealand.

President of the Auckland Bowls Umpires Association, Appointments Officer for Auckland Bowls, Kittyhawk Regional Qualifiers convener and umpire, convenor of the Bowls NZ Umpires Committee, and selected as a Technical Official for Delhi 2010; Helen Stallard has been awarded the Official of the Year award.

An accomplished official is invaluable on the green, and Stallard has excelled as a trainer of other officials, as an umpire and convener of major competitions, in her organisational skills, and in her contribution to the sport of Bowls.

By all accounts, attendance at Umpires Meetings in Auckland has improved markedly since the St Heliers club member took the reins as president, and they are now well-organised with interesting speakers. In the same vein, social tournaments between umpires are treated with the same degree of organisational flair that Stallard applies to club, centre and national events.

This highly commended official is known for her knowledge of the game, and can always be relied on to run a tournament with smooth finesse; while also ensuring that her chartwork is exemplary, calls are made without prejudice, and that updates are always on time.

As one of the Bowls NZ Examination panel members, and a part of the Auckland reaccreditation panel, Stallard has a strong and beneficial involvement in the selection and training of suitable umpires. With the kind of involvement and effort that Stallard invests in Bowls, it is more than appropriate that she can now claim the title of Official of the Year in 2010.


ALISTAIR McMURRANHELEN STALLARd

15

www.bowlsnz.co.nz



CLUB OF THE YEAR

BECkENHAM

BOWLING CLUB

For the second year in a row, it

is Beckenham Bowling Club in

Christchurch that has earned the title of

Club of the Year at the National Bowls

Awards. The award, following closely

on the heels of earning Bowls New

Zealand’s first ClubCheck Gold Award

(for the highest standards of club best

practice), may come as no surprise to

those who are familiar with the club’s

history of innovation and success. For

almost a century, Beckenham has been

innovating on and off the greens: it was

the first club in Christchurch to have a

women’s bowling section, for example.

The many changes, strategies

and programmes the club have made

include: promoting bowls as a sport

for all ages through involvement with

Intermediate to High School-age pupils;

promoting community social bowls;

and the development of New Zealand’s

first formal Club High Performance

Programme. This last innovation is of

particular interest in achieving the

club’s goal of on-green excellence,

and in retaining promising players like

Jan Khan (NZ representative for the

Commonwealth Games). Club member

Adele Greenfield was also selected as

a NZ representative at the Games; in

addition to a page-long list of regional

and national successes that include a

National Singles winner.

“Beckenham’s club members are

rightly proud of what they...have

achieved as a club both on and off

the green,” says Bowls NZ Community

Development Officer Vince Roper.

“They exemplify excellence in

everything they do and are the

quintessential role model club. In my

experience of working with over 45

bowling clubs... I have never dealt

with any club which comes close to

matching Beckenham for the quality

of it’s thinking, it’s depth of capability

across the executive, it’s understanding

of the concept of pursuing excellence,

and it’s commitment to structured

implementation of its plans.”

16

www.bowlsnz.co.nz



VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

COACH OF THE YEAR

GRAHAM LOWERYWILMA ENNOR

Volunteers are the lifeblood of sporting organisations like

Bowls NZ, and this year’s Volunteer of the Year, Graham

Lowery, is the quintessential volunteer.

The list of his contributions to the running, maintenance

and organisation of the Burnside Bowling in Christchurch

is as long as your arm, and lends a glow of the invaluable

to this fantastic volunteer. Lowery’s dedication, practical

skills, efficiency, and enthusiastic motivation to improve

and maintain the club has made an immense impact on its

standing; allowing it to host such world-class events as the

11th World Bowls Championships in 2008. Lowery won the

Fendalton-Waimairi Community Board Community Service

Award in 2008 for his work before and during the successful

event. Lowery also received personal thanks from Bowls NZ

CEO Kerry Clark for his “fantastic contribution” in playing a

“pivotal role in the smooth running of the tournament each

day” - a testament to one committed volunteer who is a role

model for all people interested in contributing.

Burnside Bowling Club’s president Neil Cornelius does

not treat the assistance lightly, “For the past 16 years, almost

single-handedly, Graham Lowery has carried out [numerous]

tasks for the club in a most efficient and professional

manner.” Those tasks include everything from maintaining

the club’s facilities, to mobilising large teams of volunteers

to help with international events like the 2008 World Bowls

Championships and the 2005 World Singles Champion of

Champions.

Graham Lowery has shown what one person can do to

make a difference to their local club; events like World Bowls

2008 would not be possible without the efforts of volunteers

like this.

This year it is Bowls Taradale’s Youth Bowls Co-ordinator,

Wilma Ennor, who has had her coaching skills and successes

recognised by being named Coach of the Year. With the

importance of youth development being better understood

and emphasised, it would be difficult to find a better

candidate for the title than Ennor.

“Having Wilma as a coach is very helpful,” says promising

young bowler Tessa Hocking, “the environment she creates is

always positive with a good mix of technical play and game

play. She has introduced many testing practice drills which

have undoubtedly improved my skills.”

Hocking won the plate, along with Malia Begley, in

the Girl’s Pairs at the 2007 National Secondary School

Championships, then rolled with style in the Kittyhawks

competition, and was selected to travel to Australia in the NZ

team. National Secondary School Singles double-champion

(2008 & 2009) Mandy Boyd has also benefitted from Ennor’s

blend of technical drills, competitive and fun exercises, and

self-analysis programmes.

Doing her part to foster the game of bowls, the Hawke’s

Bay coach’s training sessions have even become part of the

NCEA curriculum in the form of eight-session programmes at

some high schools. This kind of proactive introduction to the

game, and development of skills, is the future of the sport

and the best way to ensure that NZ continues to rank as a

world-class bowling nation.

A coach to be emulating: Wilma Ennor.

17

www.bowlsnz.co.nz

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AdMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

GREEN kEEPER OF THE YEAR

MICHAEL STEWART

How does a small country bowls club like Wakefield, near

Nelson, double its membership in just two years? The

answer lies with Michael Stewart, president of the Wakefield

Bowling Club, this year’s Administrator of the Year, and

recipient of the Don Manson Memorial Award.

Stewart works with Bowls Nelson producing a yearly

programme, negotiates for club-sponsored tournaments,

and is a driving force in the recruitment of new members for

his club. Through letter drops, SPARC ‘Way2Go’ sports days,

and a ‘Wake up to Wakefield Day’, membership has almost

doubled. This has allowed the creation of new roles within

the club, and the leadership skills of the president to shine

through.

Named “the best little bowling club in NZ” by CDO Vince

Roper, the club’s “growth and achievement under Mike’s

leadership over the last 2-3 years are unparalleled. I have

frequently used Wakefield as a role model club for others

to learn from.”

The club was awarded with the Bowls NZ ClubCheck

Essentials Award, and is the first of its kind to be awarded

to a rural club.

“It was not until he became president that the club had

clear goals set that were achievable,” says Vice President

Gordon Hope, “the results speak for themselves. If it was not

for him, the club would still be a small, struggling country

club.”

A good green keeper needs to understand fertilisers,

sprays, grass types and growing conditions. But a great

green keeper understands the most important aspect:

bowlers need to have good bowling greens on which to ply

their skills. And this year Gerard Slattery, green keeper and

president of the Waitoa Bowling Club, Thames Valley, has

been named the best green keeper in New Zealand.

It is an honour that the Waitoa resident has worked hard

for: he spends many hours maintaining the Waitoa green,

and many more talking to and helping others with their

greens. In fact, in addition to being the president and green

keeper of the Waitoa Bowling Club, Slattery is also president

of the Thames Valley Green Keepers Association. After re-

establishing this organisation in the area, the exceptionally

keen green keeper and bowler has reinvigorated the local

green keepers and poured time and effort into training and

assisting new green keepers.

Having worked with Slattery over the past six years,

Waikato Sports Turf Agronomist David Ormsby has been privy

to the local bowler’s great work. “Gerard has done a great

job as a green keeper (sic)... such that it [Waitoa Bowling

Club] is now a highly regarded playing surface within the

Thames-Coromandel Region.

“[He] has done a great job in making meetings

informative...whilst raising the profile of the region’s green

keepers. Gerard has been an enthusiastic green keeper who

is continuously trying to learn and improve his green keeping

skills.” This is true to such a degree that club members believe

“it can be said that Gerard shows more than a commitment

to his role, it is an obsession and a very important part of his

commitment to bowls.”

Glowing endorsements like these have been following

Slattery for years, and it is testament to his hard work and

enthusiasm for the art and science of green keeping that he

has been named the 2010 Green Keeper of the Year.

GERARd SLATTERY

19

www.bowlsnz.co.nz

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SOCIAL SUMMER LEAGUE


WANT TO

THIS SEASON?

FILL YOUR GREENS

By Nicole Fearon

The bowls season is fast

approaching and with it brings social

leagues and an opportunity for your

club to make an extra buck as well as

have some fun.

Mates In Bowls social league

does just that. The series allows non-

bowlers the opportunity to ‘pay for

play’ at participating clubs, bringing

new players and their wallets into

your club. Your club gains members,

revenue and exposure from a social

league. Bowls New Zealand has the

systems already set up, and all you

need to do is implement it. MIB is also

fun to run! It helps to build club spirit

and is designed so your volunteers can

focus on what they love and are good

at, having a laugh, meeting people

and showing people how to play.

Mates In Bowls has been made

super easy for your club to run. All

marketing material is supplied to

participating clubs, limiting the work

you have to do. Bowls New Zealand

will provide your club with:

l Personalised posters

l Signs

l Coverage on the MIB website

l Postcards

l Email template

l Fax and postal drops to your

local area

Then all you need to do is use it!

Community Development Officers

(CDO’s) will also be on hand to help

with the process and make sure it is a

success at your club.

All of this makes getting people

onto your greens easier as well as

making your club money!

This year a change has been

made to the programme. If your club

signs up to a 3 year contract, the

contribution to Bowls NZ for the first

year will be only $1.50 per person per

night! In the 2nd year it will be $1.75,

and in the 3rd year the contribution

will be $2—which is still less than the

$2.50 that has been going towards

covering the cost of the marketing

support used to promote the club and

the programme.

Clubs that run a second series will

also have the opportunity to win cash

prizes, and ten lucky volunteers will

have their club membership paid for

the year.

To sign up for Mates In Bowls

contact your local Community

Development Officer (CDO).

To sign up for Mates In Bowls contact your local

Community Development Officer (CDO).

Region 1: Steve Smith 021 966 016

Region 2: Steve Beel 021 966 017

Region 3 & 4: Paul Cavanagh 021 966 177

Region 5: Vince Roper 021 966 263

Region 6: Jim Scott 021 966 010

or Rob at Bowls New Zealand on [email protected]

21

www.bowlsnz.co.nz


ClubCheck

CLUBCHECk

CRITERIA TIGHTENEd

GOLdAWARd

A recent change has been made to the ClubCheck criteria for Gold Awards.

Bowls NZ believes that clubs achieving our sport’s highest recognition

for best operating practice should reasonably be expected to be supporting

most, if not all, of the nationally branded ‘game growth’ products Bowls

NZ promotes.

Accordingly for the Gold award an additional requirement is that

the club will need to achieve a rating of at least 4 out of 5 in the social/

casual bowls category, AND will need to be supporting and delivering the

Bowls NZ products of MIB, Have a Go and Christmas bowls, AND will need

to be collecting and sending to Bowls NZ the name and email details of

participants in any social bowls series (other than one off corporate type

events) being conducted by the club.

The ratings towards bronze and silver awards will take into account

the degree to which a club supports MIB, Have a Go, Christmas Bowls and

Squad 6, but at present these are not bronze/silver award prerequisites.

BOWLING CLUBWAIkANAE

Waikanae Bowling Club President

Brian Cuff is enthusiastic about Bowls

New Zealand’s strategic planning and

Club Check process.

Moments after receiving the

club’s Gold Award certificate in the

presence of Kapiti Coast District Mayor

Jenny Rowan, Cuff said Club Check

had prompted the club to do what it

should have been doing years ago.

“It provided the incentive for

us to look at our standards; to make

something happen. We’re absolutely

delighted with the results,” he said.

As an example, under the strategic

and operational planning procedures

which led up to the Club Check

assessment, the club looked at the role

of House Manager. They developed

a job description and redeveloped

policies and conditions associated with

the hiring of clubhouse facilities.

“These policies have been

transferred to our website in the form

of an outstanding slide show display,

with an excellent response from

community users,” Cuff said. “None of

that would have happened had we not

gone down the Club Plan path.”

Cuff said that even the club’s new

and highly successful website could be

traced back to the strategic plan.

“We got a website because Bowls

NZ said we had to have one under

Club Check, and what a success it’s

been in keeping our members and the

local community in touch with what’s

happening at the club.”

Cuff also praised Bowls NZ in

promoting Club Plan and Club Check

as a means of encouraging clubs to

raise their standards.

“It gave us great confidence

to know that we could ring our

Community Development Officer and

get a Club Plan template on something

like a volunteer management policy

sent to us straight away.”

He said the process had given the

whole club a renewed confidence,

an ‘it will happen’ attitude, and a

confidence that it could achieve

whatever it wanted.

President Brian Cuff and Jenny Rowan,

Kapiti Coast District Mayor.

22

www.bowlsnz.co.nz

CLUB SCENE


CANTERBURY EARTHqUAkECrumpled asphalt and a deep half metre gash running across the carpark

towards the facilities gave early indication of the catastrophic damage to Kaiapoi

Riverside’s artificial green, which became misshapen with erupted silt and

slumping in many places. One end of the clubrooms had dropped away and wide

trenches had appeared around its foundation. It was an unwelcoming sight for the

members from unaffected parts of town who later turned up in their whites for

the opening.

The extent of the damage and the possible permanent loss of the club at

its existing location have been devastating. The outcome is heartbreaking for

President Gary Bodger, his executive and the large base of willing members who

have worked hard over the years to make the friendly club a year round success,

both competitively and socially. “We’ve had wonderful response from fellow clubs

since the news broke about us. We are so lucky in one way to have such wonderful

clubs in this most special game. Our feelings go out to other clubs who have

suffered as well”.

It’s the true leaders who show through during times of adversity and Gary and

his team are already thinking about the club’s short term options and longer term

future. “We may be in the worst situation but we are very committed to recover on

the same site”.

Greens in some other Canterbury clubs have also suffered damage, mainly

from cracks, mounds and silt eruptions where the pressure has broken the green

surface. Clubs affected are Elmwood, Burwood , Christchurch, Richmond, Tai Tapu,

and Sydenham, where some greens may yet be lost for the rest of this season.

Special recognition goes to those members of the Canterbury Greenkeepers Assn

who quickly worked their way around the clubs to clean up the greens and remove

loose silt before it became even more of a problem.

RICOH APOLOGYTo our clubs who experienced delays in receiving their Ricoh printers I want to

pass on my personal apology for any inconvenience this caused.

Ricoh unexpectedly got swamped by several large orders happening at

the same time, which caused significant delays in some of our clubs receiving

their printers. For any inconvenience caused by this I would like to pass on my

sincerest apologies. Michael O’Keefe, Marketing and

Communications Manager, Bowls New Zealand.

HAWkE’S BAY VOLUNTEER LUNCHEONBowls Hawke’s Bay Board members demonstrated

their appreciation of the efforts of many volunteers,

by providing a luncheon and get-together for coaches,

match committees, umpires and greenkeepers at Bowls

Heretaunga on Monday 13th September.

23

www.bowlsnz.co.nz

CLUB SCENE


BOWLS CANTERBURY UNdER 26 SINGLES TOURNAMENT Friday 1 October to Sunday 3 October 2010 at Burnside Bowling Club, 330 Avonhead Road, Christchurch

Come and see some of New Zealand’s brightest youth lawn bowlers in action. Spectators welcome -

admission is free. Any queries to Bowls Canterbury on phone 03-351 2070.

AUGUST UPSHOT CORRECTIONA photo appeared in the August Issue in the Review of the Capability and Performance of Bowls NZ Section with an incorrect

caption.

The correct caption should read “Mates in Bowls team from Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti playing at the Gisborne Bowling Club.

Photo by Maurice Allan.”

FORMSIn our continued drive to bring more sponsors, grants, and external funding to our sport our inability to accurately count and

define our participants has become increasingly apparent.

This simple truth that we cannot accurately count or segment our sport’s participant base is not only making it increasingly

difficult to link organisations in a meaningful way to Bowls, but is putting all our existing funding sources at risk. So as a result

we have had to establish a system by which we can record all those that participate in our sport at all levels.

Clubs will be receiving forms which all casual and youth bowlers must fill in when playing bowls. The participant fills in the

white copy which registers on the pink and yellow, the white copy goes to Bowls New Zealand, the Pink stays with your club,

and the yellow to your Regional Service Centre. Simply send in the white forms when you have a pile for us to process.

By having your help to initiate this system we will be able to ensure we can deliver on what our funders expect, which will

help us to maintain their sources of revenue ongoing and will be a major factor in enticing other supporters to the sport of

bowls. This will be a significant factor in our ability to keep membership fees under control.

So we need your help to ensure everyone who participates in the sport is recorded, when you need new form books just

email us on [email protected] and we will have them sent out ASAP.

BOWLS NEW ZEALANd AGMThis year’s Bowls New Zealand AGM was held at the Hutt Bowling Club on Saturday the

11th of September.

At the AGM, Bowls Clubs and Centres were represented by their selected delegates

who voted on a range of motions and amendments. The key achievements of the

year were overviewed such as the signing of Wellington and Canterbury as Regional

Service Centres, and the achievement of a financial surplus even with large unforeseen

extraordinary expenses. Highlighted throughout the AGM were concerns over the values

and changing standards of members within the sport and the need for the sport to

review itself in face of a history at club and centre level of turning a blind eye to such

activity. The board agreed to investigate the opportunity of an under 10 year national

tournament, the Board has instructed Bowls New Zealand Staff to ascertain costs and

models by which this competition could be run within our calendar year.

The AGM was followed by Wellington Centre hosting an overview and review of

their transition into a Regional Service Centre which provided insights for all concerned

as to how the RSC’s will be able to aid in delivering coaching, youth, Umpire, and

Green Keeper services to their community. The AGM and Forum was held in a spirit of

cooperation and with a feeling that the sport is moving in the right direction and that

the future holds great potential.

25

www.bowlsnz.co.nz


LAUNCHES NEW

www.bowlsnz.co.nz – for your latest bowls news and results

Bowls NZ is proud to announce the launch of our exciting new website. Because the old website is fast becoming out of date we felt it was time for a fresh new look – and our website providers Sporting Pulse have created a fantastic new site with great new features.

As part of this year’s objectives for the marketing team we have reviewed our technology and Website strategies. The key factors considered were: the ease of use of our existing website, future proofing our needs, suitable solutions for clubs, and integration capabilities.

With a simple layout, and many interactive features, finding out what’s going on in the bowling world will be easier than ever before. You’ll be able to give your opinion on polls and forums, browse photo galleries, get information on upcoming events, play online bowling games, take quizzes, and follow the Black Jacks on their road to Commonwealth glory. The new site will also include classifieds, green keeper’s information, coaching, and umpire information. Results from all our competitions will be online, and you’ll be able to look up clubs and coaches in your area. The site will also feature all the tools needed to get your club started on ClubCheck and Mates in Bowls, so go have a look and see what’s there!

The new site will feature all you need to know about the Bowls NZ

constitution and rules of the game, so all your technical questions can be answered.

If you are looking into creating a site for your club you can do this using website providers ALLTEAMS. ALLTEAMS will set up your customised websites for free, and you can use the site to manage registrations, keep your members up to date on club news, start a photo gallery, and attract new sponsors. To find out more visit www.allteams.co.nz. AllTeams did some base work on our ideal solution of a totally integrated platform for all

WEBSITE

aspects of our organisation. Allteams understand our strategy and the future direction we want to head in and are investigating solutions so that we can deliver this to our community in the future, while maintaining a free platform option for our clubs now.

We are excited by our new website and the opportunities available to clubs. We look forward to your feedback and encourage everyone to have their say on the various forums and polls now in place. To take a look at the new site visit:

www.bowlsnz.co.nz.

26

www.bowlsnz.co.nz


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-Bowls/131417323572974?ref=ts

You have 5 new notifications,

including two friend requests, one

new comment to a post on your wall,

you’ve also been tagged in a friend’s

photo album and Sally likes your

most recent status update.

If this really doesn’t make sense to

you, then chances are you’ve grown

up in an offline world. “Facebook”

is one of the most well known and

mainstream ‘online social media

networks’ and with over 500 million

registered users, it is the largest.

Bowls NZ has recently launched itself

online, to grow interest in bowls by

Kiwi kids and youth.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/

Youth-Bowls/131417323572974?ref=ts

So what exactly is Facebook and what is the big deal?

Facebook is an online network

of people, connected by friendships

and related interests or associations.

On Facebook, every user has a unique

profile page, which is customised by

the user to display their personality

and interests. A profile will typically

include photos and a stream of

‘activity’ which is posted on the

profile ‘wall’. Without getting too

technical, the best way to describe

how Facebook works is to think of a

profile page as a scrapbook of your

life, which you share on the internet

with all of your friends. It seems like

everyone is on Facebook, from the

Prime Minister of New Zealand to the

All Whites and musicians.

How is Bowls NZ utilising Facebook?

Bowls NZ has created an officially

dedicated page, targeted towards the

youth bowls market. By creating this

page, it is intended that Bowls NZ is

able to communicate directly with

youth to promote and grow the sport

of bowls and enable youth to have a

‘voice’. Content relevant to youth will

be posted here and people can give

feedback using the various options

that Facebook presents. An album of

photos from the Bowls NZ National

Secondary Schools could be uploaded

and youth bowlers would ‘tag’

themselves in the photo (this means

caption the photo with their name,

if they are in it) and post comments

about how much fun they had. Others

who agree with the comment click on

“Like” and the news spreads. All of

this ‘activity’ is posted on the profile

wall, where friends see it and then

will follow the action, raising the

profile and awareness of bowls in the

youth community.

I’ve heard that sharing information online is dangerous for youth?

Facebook is constantly updating

and revising how it operates to ensure

that privacy concerns are met. Users

should be aware that anything posted

online is potentially in the public

domain and everyone is encouraged

NOT to publish private information

such as contact or personal details.

Privacy settings on a person’s profile

can be set depending on how much

information you’d like to share and

it is encouraged that you become

‘friends’ with actual people that you

know.

How do I get on Facebook?

Visit www.facebook.com and

set up your own profile, it is free.

Ensure that you read and review your

personal privacy settings. Next search

for your friends online and send them

a friend request. Finally, monitor your

page, upload photos and comment on

your friends’ walls. If you’re a youth

bowler search for the Youth Bowls

page and click “Like this”.

Like

27

www.bowlsnz.co.nz

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What many people have failed to

understand or grasp when viewing

our sport is that it isn’t in decline

- that the number of people who

are participating in our sport is on

the increase as shown in the graph.

In 2003 participation was at 72,139

and today participation numbers are

99,850.

Key Fact: Due to the changes in

lifestyle, time and family pressures,

Bowls NZ, in the interest of transparency, is introducing a “myth busting” segment, specifically dedicated to busting some common “myths” with the facts. Let’s look at…

MYTH BUSTING

MYTH #2: Our sport is in decline.

Participation Statistics from 2003 to current

most people can no longer afford to

spend their entire weekends playing

sport.

Key Fact: People in most sports

are moving away from traditional

membership and are moving towards

casual participation or participation in

short format competitions.

Key Fact: For bowls to survive we

have to address this issue of changing

trends in regards to participation

within our sport and work to find a

financial solution that incorporates

the casual bowler. If we don’t address

our financial structure, membership

fees will continue to climb.

Key Fact: Our sport isn’t in

decline, we have just failed to ensure

we generate revenue off the growth

market within our sport.

20,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

Total

Full

Casual

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www.bowlsnz.co.nz

THE NECESSITY OF

FINANCIAL

Mike O’Keefe, Bowls NZ

Marketing Manager.

It is of real concern that in this day

and age, in an economic environment

where corporate, governments, and an

individual’s finance is top of mind that

many of our clubs and centres refuse to

recognise their financial responsibilities

for ongoing survival.

Even though clubs operate

independently with their own executive

and boards I believe it is absolutely

critical that the issue of financial

management is raised nationally and

is a topic for open discussion, and

that all members are aware of what is

happening around them.

I have been overwhelmed by the

number of club financials that I have

seen that show clubs and centres

operating to significant deficits over

an extended period of time, spending

more than they are earning, and dealing

with this by decreasing club and centre

savings, selling off assets, or in the worst

of the cases simply ignoring the problem

and hoping it goes away.

This poor financial management

is one of the biggest issues facing our

sport, and is one aspect that every

member of our sport will be affected

by. What happens if your club closes?

What happens if your club can’t maintain

its greens? Do you know your club’s

financial position? Do you know what

plans are in place to ensure the club is in

existence in ten year’s time?

Now I ask these questions for a

reason.

I have seen a number of financial

reports from clubs, and a significant

portion show clubs making annual

deficits in the tens of thousands. I have

read board reports that talk about

the issue of operating deficits and

continually reducing reserves as being

an unsustainable practice, and yet in

the same report the executives show

no planning or foresight to address this

issue. Some of our clubs and centres are

bordering on financially unsustainable

positions, and it is outrageous that our

members aren’t crying foul over these

practices. Bowls as an organised sport

will not be in existence in ten years if we

do not demand that we get proactive

and rectify this issue at all levels of our

sport.

Financial sustainability is simple; we

have to run to break-even budgets. Our

clubs and centres have to run budgets for

each aspect of their operation, from the

bar, to tournaments. We have to know

what revenue we have coming in, and

where it’s being spent. Ask yourself, does

your club have a budget for the next

tournament you play in? Can you easily

see how much revenue was generated?

How much the tournament cost? If not,

why not? We have to be able to track

and record that expenditure so when

abnormal instances occur we can identify

them and rectify the problem. What is

unacceptable is the number of clubs and

centres that are not running even the

MANAGEMENT


30

www.bowlsnz.co.nz

most basic budgets.

Simply put we can no longer put

our heads in the sand, if we have learnt

anything from the financial crisis that

has encompassed the world, it is that

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HAS TO BE

TRANSPARENT AND REALISTIC to be

effective.

Clubs and Centres are facing

financial difficulties and are hoping that

their operational programmes will be

funded by grant funding, and finding

themselves with significant problems

when applications are declined. A

recent commentary on gaming trust

funding states “As the era of easily

available gaming funds continues to

fade, organisations are now examining

business models that have core business

matched by sustainable revenue.

Gaming funds will remain a significant

part of the landscape but will be best

used for projects that drive change,

deliver demonstrable benefit and leave

an organisation stronger when the

investment ends”.

Clubs and members have to face a

reality that revenue has to increase for

clubs to survive, so membership subs

and bar charges have to be reviewed

unemotionally in the cold hard light

of day. We are investing in Community

Development Officers for a reason, so

use them! Seek their advice, look at the

ClubPlan planning modules, and ask, can

this help your club?

This sport has a history, over a

hundred years of people building

a platform and infrastructure for

our enjoyment of bowls. Our club

base is extensive, the quality of our

greens world class, our volunteer base

extraordinary and we have world leading

development programs for our officials,

but now we are putting it all at risk. I

find it shocking that there are people

and clubs out there who are proactively

and intentionally reducing their clubs

reserves to zero to keep membership fees

to nil for their current members. They are

disrespecting the hard work of all those

gone before them. It is my personal

opinion that this is a slap in the face of

all those individuals who have poured

their hearts and souls into a club so that

it could be there for the enjoyment of

the next generation of bowlers.

As members and stakeholders of this

sport we have to demand that those

we have appointed to run our sport at

all levels take it on their shoulders to

manage this sport so that it is here now

and in the future. We have to shout

from the roof tops, we have to make our

voices heard! We have to say, “I don’t

care who you are or where you come

from, but that type of management is

unacceptable.” We have to decide how

do we survive? What has to change to

make sure this club, this centre, this

sport, is here for the next generation?

We can’t be the ones who destroy this

history we have built.

NOTE: This is an opinion piece, written by Mike O’Keefe purely based on his own personal experience and opinion. It does not

necessarily represent the official views, policies or opinion of Bowls New Zealand.

For feedback on this opinion piece email [email protected]


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www.bowlsnz.co.nz

GRANT’S CORNER 2 CORNER TOURNAMENTJoin in the fun and get adifferent angle on our favourite pastime. From November 2010 to April 2011 at participating clubs.

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