30 junior bowlers roll up

Rarotonga Bowling Club members beamed with pride as 30 junior bowlers showed off their new found love and skill for the game.

Over two Saturdays, junior lawn bowls players from Tereora College, Nukutere College, St Joseph’s Primary School and Avarua Primary School gathered for the inaugural inter school and college lawn bowls competition.

But no one was more proud than national junior development coach Vana and Robert Ohmsen.

The couple have worked tirelessly to get the lawn bowls junior development programme off the green and with the support of parents, schools and members of the Parekura club – the first ever inter-school competition was held.

Scores achieved in the singles, pairs and triples division were tallied together for an overall score for each school – and some great ends were played by the junior bowlers.

And after two Saturdays battling it out on the green, it was the team from Nukutere College that triumphed to take the gold medal and the inaugural inter school championship shield.

Second place went to the babes from St Joseph’s Primary School while Tereora College took out the bronze medal.

It was a proud day indeed for the sport that is sometimes called an ‘old peoples’ game – but check out the thrill on the fresh faced players and you will see that lawn bowls is a sport for everyone – just played more expertly by the ‘more mature’ players!

The junior competition was proudly sponsored by Syd Enoka Penketh and Alenise Yates, Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin and Lady Goodwin, Mr and Mrs Vaile and of course proud coaches Vana and Robert Ohmsen.

If you want to have a roll up or get your kids into the sport – just head along to the club rooms in Parekura and speak to one of the members who will be more than happy to assist you.

More photos, page 13