Good Afternoon All

Following yesterday’s update we have had many clubs come back to Bowls Canterbury with information regarding Club events and tournaments and whether they have since been cancelled or in some cased postponed. I wish to thank these clubs with providing Bowls Canterbury with that information and also thank all club executives for taking the best interests of their bowling club members into consideration. I ask the executives from any other clubs who have since cancelled or postponed any events to please let Bowls Canterbury know as we intend to put a link on our website with Club Updates.

Our Government have recently advised that they are banning mass gatherings over 100 people (including staff) for indoor events and for outdoor events less than 500. For more information on this click this link: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120413513/coronavirus-more-rules-on-mass-gatherings-from-government

Our National body; Bowls New Zealand, yesterday advised that they believe gatherings of 50 or less are ok for our sport and the bowling community.  I again want to stress that I would encourage our Canterbury club executives to take this as advice only and act accordingly for your own clubs in the best interest of your members.

Again this is an evolving situation and I expect further changes still to come. Please keep reading our updates regularly. We will further update tomorrow regarding the Bowls Canterbury events which we are hoping to still be able to run over the weekend.

As included in yesterday’s update; Bowls Canterbury realises that many bowlers may be feeling uneasy about the uncertainty of what Coronavirus is bringing to our nation. Please encourage your members to reach out should they need to, to any of the following agencies:

National helplines

• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
• If you are in self-isolation, call Healthline first (0800 611 116). 
• Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
• Healthline – 0800 611 116
• Samaritans– 0800 726 666
• Your GP is a good starting point. For support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing aswell.
• If you have been overseas within the last 14 days and develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath, phone Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or contact your GP, including phoning ahead of your visit.
• For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-health-advice-general-public/covid-19-managing-your-mental-wellbeing

Coronavirus – Update 5: 18 March 2020 (PM)

Good afternoon,

Following my post this morning (below; please read) Bowls New Zealand have just sent out the directive; encouraging for  Centre and Clubs events:

Community (Club and Centre) Update – Wednesday 18 March
Having consulted with Sport New Zealand and acting on the latest advice from the Ministry of Health:
As of Wednesday 18-March, Bowls New Zealand strongly recommends that (until further notice) all bowls events throughout the country be limited to 50 persons (or less) per club event.
Significantly, we have not made the decision to postpone or cancel all bowls at the community level (as other sports like Netball, Cricket and Rugby have). The Ministry of Health is not (as yet) promoting this option and we are acutely aware that in times like this, our communities need to stay connected.
As long as we are all sensible, take precautions and understand our vulnerability and those around us, then we continue to support our bowling clubs remaining open.

 

Bowls Canterbury encourages our own clubs to take the above into consideration only and act accordingly to best support your members.  Especially when making decisions about club tournaments, which I know multiple clubs have scheduled for this weekend.

That being said, Bowls Canterbury will make changes to our Champion of Champion Under 5’s Men’s event which is due to be held this Sunday. Currently we have two men’s sections playing at Burnside Bowling Club; which included 32 participants. We will now move one section of 16 participants to another green(venue TBC). We strongly recommended that spectators are restricted at each venue – including the Women’s venue at Belfast Bowling Club.

Regarding events that have been postponed; we have since added to that list with the inclusion of Secondary School events and the full list to date is as follows:.

The current postponed/cancelled list as at 4.30pm 18 March is as follows:

• Wednesday Secondary School Sport 25^th March – Cancelled
• Regional Secondary School Singles and Triples 25^th March – Cancelled
• Champion of Champions Finals Weekend 27-28 March – Postponed date TBC
• National Secondary Schools Champs on the 31^st March and 1^st of April 2020 in Auckland – Cancelled
• Bowls Canterbury Prize Giving 9^th May – Postponed date TBC

Please note, and as mentioned in all my updates – this is all subject to change as the situation continues to evolve.

Bowls Canterbury realises that many bowlers may be feeling uneasy about the uncertainty of what Coronavirus is bringing to our nation. Please encourage your members to reach out should they need to, to any of the following agencies:

National helplines

• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
• If you are in self-isolation, call Healthline first (0800 611 116). 
• Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
• Healthline – 0800 611 116
• Samaritans – 0800 726 666
• Your GP is a good starting point. For support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing aswell.
• If you have been overseas within the last 14 days and develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath, phone Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or contact your GP, including phoning ahead of your visit.
• For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS
• https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-novel-coronavirus-health-advice-general-public/covid-19-managing-your-mental-wellbeing

Coronavirus – Update 5: 18 March 2020

The Bowls Canterbury Board met yesterday and after much consideration have come to the following conclusions about our upcoming events:

Champion of Champions Finals Weekend at Papanui Club – 28/29 March 2020

This event has been postponed to a later date TBC.

Bowls Canterbury Prize Giving

We had scheduled this event to take place on Saturday 9^th May, however, this event has also been postponed to a later date TBC.

Bowls Canterbury will reassess the situation of postponement dates at the end of May.

I realise this may upset some people – especially our Champion of Champions players who have been playing for this event over many months; some since as earlier as October. Please know it was not a decision the board came to lightly. We had taken into consideration all avenues of continuing these events, however, after taking advice from Sport Canterbury and Bowls New Zealand, we believe this is the right decision for our sport. We also have to take into account the reality of our member demographic and the ever changing and evolving situation we as a Nation are currently in.

As at Wednesday 18 March the following events will still take place:

• Manning Cup & Under 5's Fours playoffs - Saturday 21 March at Papanui Club
• Champion of Champions Under 5's Singles - Sunday 22 March at Belfast BC, Burnside BC, 1 more green TBC
• Over 60's Sevens final - Monday 23 March at Fendalton BC
• Bowls3Five playoffs - Wednesday 25 March at Christchurch BC

We do ask that spectators restrict themselves from attending these events and if they do – please ensure hygiene is upheld in the highest capacity. As I have said previously the coronavirus is an everchanging and evolving situation so this could potentially change – will we ensure that any changes will be advised as soon as possible.

To summaries what Bowls New Zealand are encouraging for our Centre and Club events is as follows:

Community (Club and Centre) Update – Wednesday 18 March
Having consulted with Sport New Zealand and acting on the latest advice from the Ministry of Health:
As of Wednesday 18-March, Bowls New Zealand strongly recommends that (until further notice) all bowls events throughout the country be limited to 50 persons (or less) per club event.
Significantly, we have not made the decision to postpone or cancel all bowls at the community level (as other sports like Netball, Cricket and Rugby have). The Ministry of Health is not (as yet) promoting this option and we are acutely aware that in times like this, our communities need to stay connected.
As long as we are all sensible, take precautions and understand our vulnerability and those around us, then we continue to support our bowling clubs remaining open.

Bowls Canterbury encourages our own clubs to take the above into consideration only and act accordingly to best support your members.

Thank you for your understanding. Please take care and look after one another.

Ngā mihi 

Mel Tukapua
Chief Executive Officer
Bowls Canterbury
p: +64 3 351 2070