Eagles News.

AORANGI SUCCESS IN TRIANGULAR EVENT
Aorangi Eagles tasted success when, competing against the Southland and Otago Societies in a Triangular event held at the Cromwell Golf Club on Sunday 27 November 2011, they won both the Triangular title and the annual contest with Otago.

The combined Aorangi men’s and women’s Stableford scores averaged out was 68.67 against the Southland total of 67.54 and Otago’s 63.58.

Thirteen men and 8 women made up the Aorangi side in a field of some 80 players on the day. The golf was played in warm humid conditions on a well prepared course which is nearing the end of a major re-design programme.

Highlights in the Aorangi performance were Stableford scores of 42 and 41 from Robert Trotter and Kit Silcock respectively along with a brace of twos from Jenny Lawson.

Talking point of the day however was the achievement of Southland Eaglass Geraldine Todd who recorded a total of 44pts. The 16 handicap Dipton golfer shot a 78 – her first better than 80 round. In so doing she won the trophy for competition between the Otago and Southland women.

Aorangi also figured in the raffle results. Three hamper raffles were held by the Club and all three came north.

Detailed results results were.-
Triangular: Aorangi 68.67pts (Men 34.54 & Women 34.13), Southland 67.54 pts (Men 35.18 & Women 32.36), Otago 63.58 pts (Men 33.78 & Women 29.80).
Individual Aorangi scores: Robert Trotter 42pts, Kit Silcock 41, Shirley Baird 38, Richard Lawson 37, Peter Simpson, Glen McConnell, Jenny Lawson and Shirley Behrnes 36.
Twos: Jenny Lawson (2).

WOMEN’S HALBERG TOURNAMENT AT WAIMATE, 13 October 2011
A field of 72 players lined up for the 2011 Women’s Halberg Tournament at Waimate on Thursday 13 October. Ideal weather conditions prevailed and the teams’ Stableford competition was played on an immaculately produced course.

Eagle Bill McKenzie, his wife Shirley and a willing band of Waimate Club members did a fine job in arranging sponsorship and staging the day. A total of $1492.00 was raised.

Justin Muschamp from the Sport Canterbury organisation gave a short address at the prize-giving detailing how the Halberg Trust distributes the funds raised at the golf tournaments to help youngsters with disabilities take part in sport and leisure activities with their peers.

Results were.- Senior Salver: Anne Cameron (Waimate) 44pts.  Junior Salver: Carolynn Darby (Temuka) 44pts. Teams: Val’s Gals (Waimate) 131pts, Lorna’s Lasses (Waimate) 129pts, Sue’s Swingers (Waimate) 122pts, Highfield  & Dolly Mixtures (Geraldine)118pts, Happy Hackers (Geraldine) 116 pts. Twos: Wendy Wareing, Shona Foxcroft and Colleen Gibbs. Nearest the pin: Deadheat between Catherine May and Val Clarke. Straightest Drive: Barbara Clarke.

EAGLES ENJOY 2011 CONVENTION
Forty two Aorangi Eagles and Eaglasses travelled to Central Otago for this year’s National Convention.  Although the region’s usually reliable summer weather let us down badly on this occasion a good time was had by all. Most of our people stayed at the Lake Dunstan Motel operated by Otago Eagle Bob Brent and his wife Laurel. The complex became the social centre for our group and some convivial gatherings were enjoyed notwithstanding the very early morning starts necessary to get to the outlying courses for golf. A barbeque on the last night gave Colin Southby and Dick Marryatt a chance to display their mastery of the grill as they cooked up the sausages generously provided by President Colin Shore. On the golfing front, the women played at Alexandra and Arrowtown and the men at Cromwell and Wanaka. Some of our members received mentions at the prizegiving. Richard and Jenny Lawson with a combined Stableford score of 69 were runners-up in the Hal Manson Memorial Trophy for husband and wife teams. They scored this by lot from Warren and Glen McConnell and Dick and Elizabeth Marryatt. Jenny Lawson was third in the Ladies’s 36-hole Stableford. Richard Lawson received a prize for his 36-hole score as did Dick Marryatt and Glen McConnell for single daily Stableford scores. Although the golf wasn’t up to much Geoff Clarke hit the jackpot winning the Convention raffle and pocketing a cool $500!

2010 Arch Bradford Tray
Joint 2010 winners of the Arch Bradford Tray, Bruce Paddon (left) and Gavin Santy (right) with Eagles Captain Michael Gray. The trophy is played for among those attending the annual Half-yearly General meeting which, this year, was held at the Geraldine District Golf Club on Thursday 14 October. Both players scored 41 Stableford points.

Eagles Support of Halberg Activites Highlighted
The support of the Eagles’ Golfing Society for Murray Halberg Trust activities was highlighted recently when the Trust’s Sports Opportunity Advisor to the Sport Canterbury organisation, Justin Muschamp, ran a short workshop for teachers at the Geraldine Primary School.

The thrust of Justin’s remarks was aimed at making teachers aware of the many ways they could adapt their sport and recreation programmes to make them more inclusive for youngsters with disabilities.

The teachers were put through a number of exercises which included juggling with scarves rather than balls, hitting balloons with fly swats rather than balls with racquets and being made aware of disadvantages some students could have in outdoor activities. These were all suggestions which could lead to more opportunities for affected youngsters.

In summing up Justin outlined some of the practical support such as individual training and special equipment available to youngsters through the funds provided by the Eagles’ Golfing Society.

Watched by Justin Muschamp, teacher Andy Morrison, displays her skills at scarf juggling during the recent workshop.

Successful Halberg at Methven
A large field of 32 four-man teams from around the district turned out for the annual Aorangi Eagles’ Men’s Halberg tournament held this year at the Methven Golf Club.

Fine weather along with good organisation by the Methven Eagles made for a very satisfactory day. Strong support from sponsors and a sterling effort by the Club’s women who provided the catering, assured a substantial provisional total of around $5,000 was raised in support of the work of the Murray Halberg Trust.

Representing the Trust on the day was Justin Muschamp who is the Trust’s Sports Opportunity Advisor to the Sport Canterbury organisation. At the prize-giving he outlined the work the Trust is able to do with disabled youngsters because of Eagles’ support. As an example he brought along a tricycle typical of those that Eagles’ funds have supplied.

Guest of honour for the day was Eagles’ National Secretary Peter Brownie. He passed on good wishes from the National President, Clary Tibbitts, and spoke of the efforts of the organisation which has resulted in the sum of $3.7m being provided to the Halberg Trust since 1969.  He commended the Methven Golf Club, all the players, sponsors and other contributors for their support of the tournament.

The teams prize on the day went to the Mt Nessing team of Peter Simpson, Neil Glass, Derek Currie and Warren McConnell with a score of 146 points by lot from the Temuka team of Ray Holt, Ray Teahen, R. Van Booma and L.McGillan. The Senior Tankard went to Grant Robertson (Geraldine) with a score of 42 points and the Junior Tankard to Colin Shore (Gleniti) with 43pts.

Other results were.- Twos: D.Lake (2), Colin Shore (2), C. Phillips, D. Sheldon, D. Law. M. Gray, I Cuthill, P. Brownie, G. Coulter, B. Paddon, D.McStay, S. Wright, R.Van Booma and L.McGillan.
Nearest-the-Pins: J. Allan, L. McGillan. S. Wright and D. Kelk.

Senior Tankard winner, Grant Robertson (right), receives his prize from Aorangi Vice-captain Robert Trotter (left) and Captain Mike Gray.

Aorangi President, Colin Shore (right) receives the Junior Tankard from Robert Trotter (left) and Mike Gray.

Justin Muschamp, the Halberg Sport Opportunity Advisor to Sport Canterbury addresses the players at the prizegiving.

Eagles Golfer of the Year
Young golfer Julianne Alvarez of Wellington was selected as the New Zealand Eagles Golfing Society’s Young Golfer of the Year for 2009.  She, along with her parents, was guest of honour at the 2010 National Convention dinner in Napier last month where she was presented with her trophy.  The very talented 13-year old impressed the 430 dinner guests with her maturity and her ability to speak so well at such a large gathering.

Julianne is coached and plays her golf at the Manor Park Golf Club in Lower Hutt. On hand to congratulate her was Manor Park Life Member and Aorangi Eagles' Secretary, Geoff Clarke.

Aorangi Convention Results
Some Aorangi members tasted success at the recent National Convention held in the Hawkes Bay over the period 21-24 February.  Beautiful hot weather and lushly grassed courses greeted the 430 Eagles and partners who travelled to the event.

Aorangi mustered a respectable total of 30 at the Convention.

In recent years the Hawkes Bay area has experienced severe summer drought conditions but this year ample late spring and summer rain produced incredible growth to leave the whole province beautifully grassed.

Visitors were delighted to play on the four best courses in the region, the men at the Hastings Golf Club’s Bridge Pa and the Napier Golf Club’s Waiohiki layouts while the women played the Maraenui Golf Club’s course in Napier and the Hawkes Bay Golf Clubs Flaxmere course.

The Aorangi Women’s Team of Shirley Behrnes (Gleniti) Dorothy Southby (Pleasant Point) and Jenny Lawson and Barbara Clarke both from Geraldine were runners-up in the National women’s teams’ event. The winners, Manawatu-Wanganui, posted a 36 hole Stableford score of 271 against Aorangi’s 264. This same Aorangi combination won the event at the 2008 Convention held in Southland.

Allan Smith from Methven was runner-up in the men’s best single Stableford round with a score of 41. This score also won him the best single daily result on the first day. Other individuals placed in the 36 hold Stableford competitions were: Dorothy Southby 71pts, Mike Gray 75, Ian Behrnes 70.

Aorangi Lose Piston Trophy
Canterbury were too strong for the Aorangi contingent when the two Eagles Societies met for their annual challenge for the Piston Trophy at the Hororata Golf Club, Glen Tunnel, on Sunday 17 January.

Canterbury posted a Stableford score average of 32.32 against the Aorangi score of 29.64.

Individual Aorangi Scores were:- Women: Jenny Lawson 39pts, Margaret Pawsey 38, Ann McLean 31 and Barbara Clarke 30.  Men: Ian Behrnes 39, Geoff Kelk 38, Robert Trotter, Campbell Paton and Len Mounsey 35, Arthur Pawsey and Geoff Clarke 35.

Aorangi Captain, Colin Shore (right) hands the Piston Trophy to his Canterbury counterpart, Tom Morgan.