Junior Competition

Junior Singles were played back in the 1930s but we are unsure how Juniors were defined. In later years, Junior bowlers were defined as Leads and Twos. Leads and Twos were subservient learners of the game, and after playing their bowls, had to stand on the bank and take no more part in the head. Offering advice or any vocal participation in the game was frowned upon. They were expected to play draw bowls only, and any aggressive shots were left to the Three and Skip. In the sixties entries in the Club Singles was restricted to threes and skips.

In 1981, the N.Z.B.A. adopted a new definition for Juniors as ‘five years and under bowlers’, and at the 1983 A.G.M. of the Club, in a move instigated by then Treasurer and Northland Bowling Centre Junior Selector, Gordon Fitzpatrick, the Club adopted the N.Z.B.A. definition for Junior bowlers. Also at this meeting the restriction on Junior bowlers playing in the Championship Singles competition was lifted. To date, no Junior bowler has managed to win the Club’s Championship Singles.

For the Leads and Twos, Intermediate Championships were introduced and ran at the same time as the Junior competition, but petered out in 1993.

In 1998, Inter-Centre competition adopted a new category of bowler, the Academy Player. Initially this was 12 years and under bowlers, and was implemented to bridge the gap between Juniors and Open. In 1999, this category was changed to 10 years and under bowlers. Club Junior competition changed to 10 years and under in 2001. Junior Championships changed to Mixed in 2012.