2012-09-27 - Te Awamutu Online

Bowls honour for
‘low key’ sportsman
Ron
Parsons says
he’s really the
low-key member
of his family
when it
comes to
sports.
His four
children have
been or still are
heavily
involved in
sport, and his
wife Beverley
is, he says
‘‘very good at
golf, and was
also pretty
good at tennis
too’’.
But now the
67-year-old
Pirongia
farmer has
found himself the centre of attention,
after being awarded life membership
of the Pirongia Bowling Club recently.
‘‘I’d never played bowls before we
moved up to Pirongia in 1992,’’ he says.
‘‘We were farming at Murupara for
15 years before we moved up here. I
joined the Pirongia Bowling Club
almost straight away when we arrived
— bowls was a quick and easy sport to
get into, and I’ve really enjoyed it.’’
And it’s not just the bowling aspect
of the sport that got him hooked. He
became seriously involved in the
administration of his club, and within
three years was elected club president.
He held that position for the next five
years, then took on the role of vicepresident
for two years.
‘‘I was also club secretary —
treasurer for five years, and for about
the past 10 years I’ve been the club
tournament secretary,’’ he says.
The work involves organising
teams to take part in tournaments,
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Te Awamutu
Courier
RON
PARSONS
either at the
Pirongia club
or at other
clubs around
the Waikato.
‘‘I play two
or three times a
week, and I’ve
been with
teams up to
Whangarei,
Tauranga,
Napier, Taranaki
— all over
the place. I
played in the
pairs at the
national championships
in
Auckland in
2004, and I play
in a lot of the
tournaments in
the Waikato
circuit.
‘‘I don’t think there’s a title in
the club I haven’t won over the
years. It’s a very good sport, and
helps keep me fit,’’ he says.
Mr Parsons says sport has
always been a strong part of life
among his family members.
His three sons, Andrew, Richard
and Geoffrey, are or have been
keen rugby players, while his
daughter, Angela, is a dedicated
horsewoman.
Ron joins a small and select
group of life members of the
Pirongia Bowls Club. There are
only five others: Rob Goodhew,
Peter Kendell, Joan Oates, Pam
Mitchell and Merle Wyllie.
Club president Peter Kewish
says the life membership
bestowed on Mr Parsons was welldeserved.
‘‘He’s put a great deal of effort
into the club over the years,’’ he
says.
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TE AWAMUTU COURIER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 21
Local lifeguards win IRB race
TC270912SP21A
LIFEGUARDS (from left) Shane Edwards, Sam Dwen and Mark Edwards with their trophies from the 90
Mile IRB Classic.
Two local lifeguards
helped the Trust Waikato
Sunset Beach A team win
this year’s 90 Mile IRB
Classic by one of the
closest margins ever.
Brothers Shane and
Mark Edwards of Ohaupo
were joined by Sam Dwen
in the race, which saw
them pitted against 29
teams from all over the
North Island.
Their endurance race
began at Scott’s Point, the
furthest point on 90 Mile
Beach, with a sprint from
the sand dunes down to
the IRB’s on the water’s
edge.
Sunset Beach A team
were first in the water
and lead the first stage of
the journey.
Normally at this point
the boats would travel
within the wave break
south to Motupia Island.
But because of the
adverse weather
conditions the leg out and
around the island was
cancelled.
Instead they travelled
north, back to the start
then turned and continued
south, crossing the
Bluff.
The boat and motor is
carried across the bluff,
refuelling occurs here,
then they are off again,
south to Hukatere hill.
Two of the crew have a
two kilometre run up the
hill to collect a tag then
return, while the third
member refuels.
At the next stage the
motor is taken off the
boat, carried up the beach
around a flag and then
back to the boat.
After refuelling they
then carry on to the finish
at Ahipara.
After almost two and a
half hours there was only
six seconds between the
first and second placegetters
(Paekakariki).
This is the fourth time
the Sunset Beach team
has taken part in the
race.
Previous results have
ranged from seventh to
second last year.
Team manager
Waikato Toyota
Carolyn Edwards says
the win this year was just
reward for all the hard
training over the cold
winter months.
‘‘The club is extremely
proud of these lifeguards.
‘‘This is truly an
endurance competition
and to not only finish but
to win, shows outstanding
lifesaving skills, fitness,
strength and determination.
‘‘The team will now
begin preparation for the
lifesaving season which
starts over Labour Weekend.’’
The three team members
are all volunteer
lifeguards at Sunset
Beach (Port Waikato).
29 Kihikihi Road, Te Awamutu. Tel: 07 872 0017
A/H: Shaune Carruthers - Branch Manager 0275 65 65 65 • A/H: Craig Dove - Vehicle Sales 021 034 2775