John Chelley’s season on the bowling green will take some serious beating.

The Whakatāne Bowling Club member was in serious form this past season, taking out all six of the club championships.

Chelley, 76, rolled his way to victory in the open and veteran singles, was part of the men’s winning pairs, triples and fours, and also claimed the mixed 2x4x2.

He said it was a special achievement.

“It’s quite hard to do something like that. I am proud of myself; it’s definitely the highlight of my time with the Whakatane Bowling Club.”

“A lot of them were team efforts. I had awesome people playing alongside me and that really helped.

“If it wasn’t for my teammates I wouldn’t get the triples, pairs and fours. I am incredibly thankful to all of them.”

Chelley is pleased to have been able to tick off this major goal.

“I am getting older and don’t think I’ll be able to do it again. It was my major ambition, and I’m chuffed I got there.

“I also did about five or six years ago. This year, we had an extra one, the mixed pairs.”

The mixed pairs has been going at the club for two seasons and Chelley has managed to win the title While he enjoyed defending this title, his highlight was the singles.

“The veteran singles was tough. The runner-up, I beat twice, 21-19. That’s how close it was, and they were two extremely good games of bowls. That was the last of the six I needed to win them all, so that was pretty satisfying.”

Next year he has another major goal – with a family focus.

“One of my sons has joined bowls and he’s so enthusiastic about it and I’ll be playing bowls with him, so that will be pretty special. We will try and win a title together. That will be very satisfying and special to me.”

He’s been playing bowls at the Whakatane club for about 20 years and said it was a great way to keep active.

In that time, he has managed about 50 club titles.

“I really love the bowls. I started at age 56; I wish I had started a lot earlier.
Everyone who plays says the same thing. The age group we want are the younger players.”

He has served as president, been a committee member, a player and a volunteer – which he still is – looking after the greens, mowing the lawns and doing various other things to ensure the club keeps running smoothly.

Last year the club relaid one of its carpet greens and Chelley said it was now running nice and smooth and was “lovely to bowl on.”

Although, he still travels to Tauranga a lot to play and enjoys being able to bowl on grass over there.