Of the swag of North Harbour centre titles won so far this season by Takapuna club members, none has struck a sweeter chord than that by one of its life members, Murray Mathieson.
For when he played at two in a Takapuna four, which early last month was a surprise winner of the centre’s men’ championship, he joined a select group who have won Harbour titles as octogenarians.
Mathieson, who now has six centre titles, the first dating back to the 1997-98 season when playing in a Glenfield four, is about to turn 84.
Two other 'seniors' were part of the Takapuna four: skip Chris Taylor who is about to turn 79, and lead Norm Scott-Morrison, aged 76. The only youngster in the four was the three, Chris Charles, who is not quite 40.
Taylor, who like Mathieson now has six centre titles, also achieved a feat which is a centre record. He now has the biggest span between his first and his latest title; 35 years. For in only his second year of bowling in the 1990-91 season, he was in a Takapuna line-up which won the Dick Bree triples.
Mathieson’s latest fours win at nearly 84 raises the question as to who might be the oldest to have ever won centre titles.
Browns Bay’s Colin Rogan is not only Harbour’s most decorated bowler, with a remarkable 39 centre titles, but he is also its most authoritative statistician, with an encyclopedic knowledge of its championship winners.
But even he can’t be too definitive as to who is the oldest, for while he keeps meticulous records confirming the ages of any winners, has never been part of his brief.
However, it appears a strong case can be made for Warkworth’s John Knowles, who was 87 when in the winning champion of champion fours team in 2012-13. A prominent minor representative cricketer in his youth, Knowles is soon to turn 100. Another in that Warkworth team, Ray Cairns, was in his early 80s.
Helensville, too, can provide at least three bowlers in their 80s when winning Harbour titles. The legendary Ivan Kostanich was 81 when winning the fours in 2003. John Wills was 85 when, in the same season he was Kostanich’s lead, and Ron Cowper was 83 when in the winning fours team two years ago.
Longevity appears to be in the genes of many bowlers. Wills was 103 when he died in 2021.
Of the women’s players, the widely admired Elizabeth Ring was 87 when in the winning Manly champion of champions four last season.
That this small group in their 80s have won titles illustrates one of bowls’ chief virtues: it is an ideal sport and healthy recreation for those beyond their athletic prime.
But it is still a remarkable feat to win at a competitive level at such an age. Most past 80, if able to play at all, are mostly restricted to half-day roll-ups. To play and maintain concentration over two full days, often in the heat of high summer, is physically demanding as well as mentally challenging.
For those who prefer more emphasis on encouraging youth rather than the aged, there have been reminders in another of Takapuna’s centre titles that bowls is for all ages. Hannah Dawson, aged 18, was with Leeane Poulson and Robyne Walker when they won the women’s triples, making her perhaps the youngest to win a Harbour title.
