Focused . . . Gore Bowling Club member Wynston McLachlan playing for the Wakatu team lines up a shot in the Bacardi Hurley plate section of the Hospitality New Zealand Bacardi Cup national bowling tournament played in Gore last month. PHOTO: SANDY EGGLESTON

Hospitality New Zealand’s 59th national tournament for the Bacardi Cup was held in Gore last month.

The tournament was hosted by the Gore Bowling Club and the Gore and District’s Memorial RSA Bowling Club.

Different cities and towns take it in turns to host the annual tournament.

The teams of four must have at least two members who are part or have been part of the hospitality industry.

Tournament controller Lex Keith, of Gore, said there were 30 teams entered in the tournament, but one had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness.

‘‘This is the first time in all the years this tournament has been going we’ve had to have a bye.’’

After the section play, the top 16 teams played each other.

Long time supporters . . . Bacardi One players (from left) David McNay, of Queenstown, Rangi Rickard, of Tuatapere, Frank Pollock, of Hawera, Kerry Simpson, of Christchurch, John McHugh of Winton are part of a team that has had the same name entered in the Hospitality New Zealand Bacardi Cup national bowling tournament for the past 42 years. Mr McNay and Mr Pollock are the only two left of the original team. PHOTO: SANDY EGGLESTON

The winners carried on to contest the Bacardi Cup and the losers played for the Bacardi Hurley Plate.

Bowl and Jack won the Bacardi Cup and Goody and the Hobbits won the Hurley Plate.

Frank Pollock (81) has played in the tournament as a member of the Bacardi One team for 42 years.

‘‘The camaraderie is marvellous,’’ Mr Pollock said.

He and David McNay (81) are the only remaining members of the original team

The cup, which was about 1 metre tall, was made from hand-beaten Mexican silver, he said.

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