A New Zealand champion outdoor bowler is hanging up her hat after almost 50 years in the game.
Elizabeth Prattley, who goes by Bett, has been forced to retire because of injury and no longer being able to concentrate during games.
In 1995 Prattley won a gold medal for the women's four’s at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championship in Dunedin alongside team members Marie Watson, Marlene Castle, and Millie Khan.
In the same championship, in the women’s pairs, Prattley and teammate Judy Howat received silver medals.​

Her consistent bowling form, which saw her beat New Zealand members and selectors led to her representing New Zealand for about five years.
Prattley was just the second female from the South Island to represent New Zealand at bowls and the 28th overall to don the silver fern, receiving her black cap at the Geraldine centennial from Kerry Clark.
Her performances at the championships also led to her winning the South Canterbury Sportsperson of the Year Award, and the Geraldine Sportsperson Award, in 1996.
While her playing was award winning, she came across the game ‘’completely by accident’’. While volunteering for St John, her weekly meeting was cancelled so she went to meet with her husband at the Woodbury Indoor Sports Club.
“Lloyd and the rest of the players were going to play indoor bowls, but they were a person short, so I filled in,” she said. “My teammate and I ended up winning.
Playing indoor bowls for the better half of a decade, in 1975 she made the move to outdoor bowls, and “the rest they say is history”, she said.
The game has taken her all over the world including Australia, South Africa and parts of Europe, she said.

Tragic situation for a club to go through - all of the history contained within, now ashes. 

The Foxton and Beach Bowling Club at Foxton Beach was devastated by a blaze on Wednesday 2nd of March. The clubhouse has been completely gutted and its large corrugated iron roof has collapsed.
President Alan Shannon and Vice President Chris Avery (pictured) say it’s not the end, and the club will rebuild. “We’ve got too many members to close up” Ms Avery said.

“We just don’t know [what’s next]. It’s going to take time to get it back together.”
They will hold a special general meeting for all members to decide what to do next. First they will need to find a venue.
Mr Shannon said the cause of the fire, which took four hours to put out, was still being investigated.
They were waiting for insurers to finish their work and for asbestos to be removed before the building was demolished.
There wasn’t much that could be salvaged. The fire ripped through every part of the building, except for a pump shed.

The Foxton Beach club was built in 1960 and in 2006 merged with the Foxton club to become Foxton and Beach.
It has 60 playing members and 200 to 240 social members. The club also runs business house bowls on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and winter bowls. Its Friday night meals are popular too.
More than 60 years of memorabilia including photos, trophies, honours boards and certificates were destroyed in the blaze.

Great results for Silverstream with three outstanding members through to the final playoffs.
Hamish Ryan (Mens 1-5), Sharon Ritchie (Womens 1-5) and Robyn Tuckett (Womens Open).
To make it this far shows incredible skill and as a club we can be very proud to be represented so well at this level. Out of the three finals, two came out on top.
Congratulations Hamish and Robyn for your wins - very well deserved! Sharon also deserved a win but it wasn't to be, however, coming in at number two for the Wellington Region is not too shabby either! Fantastic effort team!!!

Unfortunately due to an ongoing injury, Denise Goldsmith was unable to play in the final - however a stand in was found in the shape of Christine Hewitt. 
A small group of spectators were on hand to witness the game (Robyn Tuckett and Christine Hewitt vs Sue Critchlow and Helen Baker) which was commenced after a short break from the challenge of doing battle in the triples. Although this made for a very long day of bowling for these ladies, it didn't stop them all showing some good form.
Congratulations to Robyn and Christine for taking the title 18 - 7. Well done!

Mens Masters will be played in Masterton and Womens are being hosted at our very own club. Dates are 8 & 9th of March - if you are able to come down and watch it should be a great couple of days of bowling. Robyn Tuckett is playing in the pairs with Kathy Cross from Naenae. Go well Robyn!

A stunning day unfolded for the Interclub Play-offs and our mens and womens teams (pictured) all played top level bowls throughout the day. The women played at Victoria and the men at Stokes Valley. Once the wins and points were all worked out, Silverstream men and women both came in at second place. Some may have been a little disappointed at missing out on the top prize but second out of all teams in Wellington is not to be dismissed lightly. This was a tough tournament across the board with some impressive skills on display from all teams involved.
Mighty proud of this bunch for their massive achievement... and also a big thank you to all those who showed up in support. It means a lot to those on the greens!
A shout out to our mighty neighbours in Stokes Valley (Men) and Naenae (Women) for well deserved wins - congratulations... superb bowls throughout!

Another great competition held over two days - this one was a nail biter until the last two ends. After the 18 ends were played the score was a mere 16 - 12 which indicates that not much more than ones and twos were given away for the majority of this match.
The 16th end had both teams tied at 12 all which meant the game was very much anybody's for the taking.
However, there has to be a winning side and congratulations goes to Alex Rennie, Dave Hewitt and Paul Smith for playing a brilliant last two ends to take the title for this season. Well done to all finalists for some great bowls!

For the second year running (and in his second year as a club member) Hamish Ryan has taken home the Junior Singles title. Hamish played brilliantly throughout the competition with only one loss in the qualifying rounds. He then played his semi-final against Jamie Rollo and moved in to the final to play Mike Sunderland, winning by an impressive 16 points (21 - 5). 
Congratulations to all who made it through to the play-offs (Hamish Ryan, Mike Sunderland, Jamie Rollo and Mark Hammington) and well done to all of our Junior members for such a great turnout and competition.
​Special thanks also to Jamie for his time and effort in organising and facilitating this great event!

After a semi-final where Robyn Tuckett faced Helen Baker (winning 21-10) and Clare Hendra faced Sue Critchlow (winning 21-11), Robyn and Clare then came together for what promised to be a real clash of the titans. First to 21 was Robyn, (winning 21-10) A huge congratulations to you Robyn for taking out the club championship women's single title for this season!!! 
​

On Friday 8th January the patiently awaited fours final that was postponed late last year due to torrential weather was finally played out in perfect conditions in front of a relaxed crowd of onlookers. 2019/20 champs Edgar Blanche, Chris Guy, Mike Sunderland and Paul Smith Played off against Adam Turner, Hamish Ryan, Simon Havill and Mark Hammington in a game that was fiercely fought.
​Congrats to both teams for making it to the final and well done to the reigning champs!

With the final being played at Naenaes indoor green while the rain pelted down and the wind howled outside, Sharon and Andy played a great game against Johnsonvilles Lui and Hilda - however the Johnsonville pair took the win on this occasion. 
Regardless - Runners Up is a very commendable placing in a final as it still shows that we have a very formidable team with these two ladies. Well done Sharon and Andy - from all accounts you played a very good game!
It was also fantastic to learn that several SBC members made an effort to show up and support our finalists... it goes to show we have a great club who believe in being there for each other.

Two days of fierce competition and of course loads of fun with a great turnout of junior (year 1 - 5) members representing clubs across the Wellington Region. 
Silverstream was proud to host this annual event and get the opportunity to help foster relationships that will last for years to come.

​A huge thankyou to all the helpers and supporters over the two days and to our esteemed club President (Aaron) for his continued support of junior member development. 

After all was said and done, the final results were:

​SECTION 1:
Fourth Place - Shane Duncan & Mark Downer (Paraparaumu Beach)
Third Place - Sam Kauone & Mone Amato (Stokes Valley)
Second Place - Zak Ramji & Richard Dailey (Island Bay)
First Place - Andrea Gray & Mike Sunderland (Silverstream)

​A small sample of pics from the days event are below - for more pictures visit our FaceBook page.