Whakatāne Bowling Club hosted the inaugural BOP Police Sport lawn bowls tournament at its Merritt Street greens recently.

With superb weather and a great turnout, 14 pairs’ teams made up of retired and current police staff battled it out for the newly minted Police Sport Bowls Trophy.

The competition was fierce despite lots of new players hitting the turf for the first time. Teams often comprised family, friends or a professional cheeky ring-in.

The event was the brainchild of Michael Chelley and Klaus Klar after playing a round of bowls. “With the police calendar blank, we thought it a good way to bring people together for a fun day filled with great costumes and plenty of banter,” said Chelley.

Teams played three games of 10 ends with great competition and some very close results.

At the end of the day, there were three undefeated teams, with only three ends separating them.

Third place went to the Bowling Stones made up of Klar and  Chelley with three wins 21 ends and 48 shots.

Second place was taken by Te Puke Thunder, father and son team Bruce and Mark Gordon, with three wins 22 ends and 56 shots.

The overall winners were the Blue Bowlers - local boys Whare Wikeepa and Adam Keno with 24 ends and 55 shots.

With Bruce Jenkins from Whakatane New World supplying the afternoon spread and club members such as Anne Looney, Mary Carpenter, John Chelley, Cath Bartlett, and Jane France assisting the teams, next year’s competition is in good hands.