A Hawke’s Bay team wins 2017 prestigious Taranaki Open Fours.

This incomparable tournament first began in 1906, and is still the yardstick that bowlers measure their skills.   Played on perfect greens with billiard table like surfaces, with 25 ends, and no time limit - the better players usually prevail.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, entries peaked at 580 sides, and although entries have dropped to 160, it is still the most important fixture in the bowling calendar – when the very best players congregate to do battle in New Plymouth late January.

The well-regarded Havelock North combination – Dave Palmer, Graeme Fulford, Bruce Stewart and John Granger were the winners in 2002, and I’m sure that they will agree, that to win among the crème de la crème of bowlers – was something extra special.

A number of Hawke’s Bay teams entered this year’s competition, and those which joined Ces Bell, Ken Smith, Fred Ellison and Frank Grantham in the final 16, were: Barry Wakely, Joe Johanson, Wayne Parker and Jim Cornish (Bay View) - after defeating Graeme Fulford and Jack Philip's Aussie combination 23/12.

Ken Greeks, Graeme Cross, Murray Murton (Gisborne) and Rex Dunn nearly made it too, after narrowly going down to the well-performed Ian Coombe 24/26.

The winners of this highly regarded event this year was the composite Hawke’s Bay combination of Ces Bell (Taradale), Fred Ellison (Napier), Ken Smith (Taradale) and Frank Grantham (Taradale).  

Their prize money of $1,000 each was well earned by defeating (among other very strong teams), Dan Delany's Carlton Cornwall team of Mike Nasey, Norman Scott-Morrison and Joe Whitelaw 27-15 in the final at West End after 23 of the scheduled 25 ends.

A particularly brilliant performance by our local men, as Danny Delaney is a former Black-Jack, and three-time winner of this event - twice skipping a team, and once being part of Gary Lawson’s four.

In the halcyon days 1992 – 25 years ago, when entry numbers were huge, Ces Bell won this tournament with his Aramoho Wanganui combination, Trevor Brougham, Cyril Evans, and Dave Wooding.    Another win after the next 25 years – brings us to the year 2042 – now THAT would create a unique record!

Photo - Ces Bell (a team photo will be forthcoming)

cdf

Preview: The 112th Taranaki Fours commences Monday 16th January 2017 with 154 teams split into eleven sections.

Australia has a total of nine teams, and teams from outside Taranaki make up another 76 teams – including teams from Bannockburn (Central Otago) in the south – and Kaitaia in the north. The numbers entered in this tournament far exceed that of the recent Bowls NZ National Tournament (70 teams in Fours), also held in Taranaki – making this the biggest bowls tournament held in NZ annually.

Many well-known names are listed (too many to mention here) but Peter Belliss and Ray Park, plus a Palmerston North combination of N Henn, R Henn, B Little and Wairarapa’s Ian Monaghan will be sure to make an impact.

Hawke’s Bay bowlers listed as entered are:G Fulford and J Philip – playing in a composite team, B Garrett, J Lechner, B Fouhy and S Robinson (Omarunui) – plus Bay View’s J Johanson, W Parker, J Cornish and B Wakely. Taradale have a good representation with F Grantham, F Ellison, K Smith and C Bell, plus C Downing, D Roberts, A Boardman and C Salmon. A Napier/composite side features K Greeks, R Dunn, G Cross and M Murton (Gisborne).

The very best wishes go to all involved. cdf