A three-man team from Linda Jones Retirement Village has taken out the trophy for the Inter-Retirement Village Waikato Bowling Tournament, setting the standard high right from the start.
The team, made up of residents Owen Henderson, Alison Hadley and Cliff Frangos, won all three games at the event, and were proclaimed the best out of the 26 teams taking part.
Villages from all over the Waikato were represented, travelling from Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville and Hamilton, with the event held at Claudelands Bowling Club.
There could be up to three teams from an individual village so with Linda Jones just entering the one team the win proved that much sweeter, said Owen.
The tournament plays a slightly different format to the usual rule of the winner being the person to throw closest to the jack.
Instead, they use a yardstick measure and whoever gets the most bowls within the circumference of the yardstick is the winner.
While humble about the win, Owen said the day was most enjoyable.
“It’s a get-together for all the villages around. Everybody’s competitive but you have your game and then have a coffee or a beer afterwards.
“That’s what we enjoy at this age in life!” he laughed.
Owen said the competition was held twice a year and by the time of the next one, in November, the team hoped to have had a few games on their own village bowling green which is set to be completed in the coming months.
“It’ll be great to go and play Hilda Ross or other Ryman villages. We’re all looking forward to having the bowling green here.”
The handsome trophy has since been engraved with the village’s name and the team are now looking forward to wearing their village bowls shirts at the next event.