Women bowlers make history

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata bowlers Barbi Paul, VikkiLee Remuera and Ngaire Panui have been selected to represent Wellington on 6 May. They will play in the Bowls Wellington interclub tournament, featuring teams of players who are in their first to fifth year of bowls. Teams from Wellington, the Manawatu, the Wairarapa and K piti will compete in the event, being played at Masterton.

This is the first time in the history of the Wainuiomata Bowling Club that three women have been selected to represent Wellington.

Barbi will be playing for Wellington for the first time.

It will be Vikki-Lee and Ngaire’s second appearance for Wellington, as they were selected for the Wellington 1 to 8 year tournament played at Paraparaumu in January.

Having three women players selected as representatives comes following a big turnaround for the club.

Three years ago the club had no female players.

Due to avery successful Community Bowling programme, Barbi, Vikki-Lee and Ngaire encouraged many ladies to join as full members.

The club is now thrilled to have more than 20 playing members and many more family and friends as social members, the club’s President Richard Morgan says.

The women are a very close unit and support each other. The group forms teams and they play in allthe Wellingtoncompetitions and they also travel anywherepossible to play bowls, such as Picton and Masterton.