Bowler Ian Mason has!

   Ian has once again been selected to play - and also captain, Hawke’s Bay’s ‘Black’ side in next weekend’s representative fixture against Gisborne/East Coast – to be held at Bowls Napier. 

The sport of bowls is in the blood of Ian Mason who was introduced to the game by his father Ivan (b) 1911 (d) 1984), a well-known bowler and administrator from Whakatu BC, and then Karamu BC, and in later years, Ian had the pleasure of playing with him in various tournaments.   Ivan was a huge force in the formation of the Karamu Bowling Club, site (which once belonged to the Newbigin family), and his vision to use the expansive garden to layout a bowling green was born.   This became Karamu Bowling Club, to become Bowls Heretaunga, and now Bowls Hastings and Clubs Hastings Inc.  Since that time, Ian has preserved a full membership of his original club - Karamu/Heretaunga/Hastings.

Ian’s mother Eunice (Hastings BC) was recognised as one of the country’s foremost exponents of the singles art, with a record that is second only to the late legendary Cis Winstanley.  Considering that the both these women bowled in the same era, Eunice’s list of accomplishments is remarkable. She won 28 Hastings Club titles including the singles 14 times.  Singles was clearly her forte, providing four of her five Champion of Champion victories, as well as her three times as runner-up in the same event.   A force in National singles events and prestigious Masters Events, Eunice’s glittering catalogue of achievements came about after a career spanning a long period of time.

A former NZ Roller Hockey representative, and in his spare time a tennis, darts and rugby player, Ian took to bowls in 1971 like the proverbial duck to water by winning the Karamu club junior singles, and the following year the coveted Tong Cup (with Barry Stowe).  This event caught the eye of the HB selector at that time, and so began 44 successive years as a lawn bowls representative for Hawke’s Bay!

Ian credits most of his ‘head reading’ and playing ability from his early mentor Ritchie Morris (Kia Toa).  Even now the winner of 13 Centre titles and 28 Club titles in many game situations, reports that he can still hear him telling him what to do to win the game!   Ian built a new house in Havelock North in 1979 and joined Havelock Nth BC. This was a golden era for the club and besides being Club and Hawke’s Bay Selector; he was part of one of the strongest Fours teams) in HB for many years.

His next move was to Waipawa where he took on the mantle of making the club competitive - culminating with winning the HB Centre Fours – Waipawa club’s first centre title for decades - and also the CHB Sports Team of the year.  A change of domicile meant membership of Havelock North BC once again, and with Ian and Pauline in the process of building a house in Central HB – who knows which club will have the benefit of Ian’s wide bowls knowledge and enthusiasm next season?

Magic moments for Ian include:

• His first time picked in the HB Rothmans 7s (HB Representative Team).
• Going on to win his blazer (which was earned after five separate representative selections)
• Learning so much from Ritchie Morris.
• The top competitive years with Brian Barker,
• And the privilege to represent HB for so many years in a wonderful sport.

*Photo by Bill

HB Women: White:

Diane Bentley Elizabeth (Liz) Fitch

Lynda Francis

Heather Leyland (Team Captain)

Coral Lukies

Mere Nepia

Shirley Passey

Cheryl Simpson

Diana Wood

Black:

Elizabeth (Liz) Campbell

Barbara Exeter

Patricia Fraser

Michelle Robinson

Linda Sowersby

Chris Telford

Lillian Tukiri (Team Captain)

Sheryl Viggers

Selector Liffy Law, Manager Colleen Ferrick

HB Men: White:

Neil Barron

Dean Drummond

Murray Glassey

Dave Henderson

Tony Terry (Team Captain)

Paul Viggers

Barry Wakely

Phil Young

Black:

Michael Brown

Fred Ellison

Patrick Golder

Paul Harrison Denis Biggs

Shane Kingston

Ian Mason (Team Captain)

Pat McCleary

Paul Sorensen

Selector Bruce Ferrick, Manager Frank Golder

Match Convenors: Bill Smoothy and Lorraine Beaufort.

Umpires: Barbara Koller, Maurice Johansen, Barry Fuller and Ray Zajonskowski.

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