20/05/2026
The Hikurangi Bowling Club’s Annual Invitational Men’s 4’s Tournament rolled into town last weekend – and what a weekend it was! With a full field of 16 teams, the green was buzzing, the bar was busy, and the bottle bins barely survived the experience.
First and foremost, a massive thank you to all the club members who helped make the tournament such a success. Whether you were slaving away in the kitchen, pulling pints over the bar, chasing sponsorship, setting up around the green, or simply keeping the good vibes rolling – this tournament doesn’t happen without you. Legends every one of you. A separate thank you will also go out to our generous sponsors who once again dug deep to support the club.
Saturday night entertainment was in fine form thanks to Tupu, who had the clubhouse rocking well into the evening. Credit must also go to the brave souls who stepped up to the microphone. Some sounded surprisingly good….others sounded enthusiastic. Mattie’s unforgettable one-word rendition of Tequilla – paired with what can only be described as interpretive dancing – will remain burned into club history for many years to come.
The undisputed karaoke champion of the night, however, was Steve Smith, who had the crowd on its feet…although not many were standing steadily by that stage of the night! Highly commended was Rangi Timoti, who somehow avoided cleaning duties thanks to a steady stream of absolute bangers.
The catering was outstanding all weekend. Huge thanks to Cater Fresh for Saturday night’s meal, and to the club members who prepared lunches across both days – kepping players well-fed and, more importantly, well-soaked.
Now to the green…
In Division One, Wog Wintle rolled back the clock in spectacular fashion, skipping S**g, Dippy, and Willie to the title and the $2,000 first prize. Some say it was the best form Wog has shown since the early 1900s! His driving was laser-sharp and his draw bowling so accurate it left many wondering where he’d been hiding it for the last 20-30 years.
Runners-up Hendy, Hori-bull, Shaun and Jason fought gallantly all the way to the final, only to fall short by a single point in a fantastic match full of skill, humour, and quality bowls. Quite remarkable really for two teams the TAB would’ve likely had paying out at suspiciously generous odds.
In the payoff for 3rd and 4th, the ever-competitive team of Robo, Sam, Paul and John proved too strong for the Opononi team of Tupu, Kono, Victor and Danny.
Division Two honours went to the Kensington crew of George, Bushy, Dave and Lindsay, who defeated the underrated social assassins Hatu, Larry, Patrick and Clive in a great final.
The Hikurangi Bowling Club sincerely thanks every team and supporter who helped make the tournament such a memorable success. The sounds of laughter echoing through the valley, mixed with the constant clanging of overflowing bottle bins, are already inspiring plans for next season.
Until then….cheers, beers, and see you next season! 🍺
Donny
