End of Year Raffle Results

Another bowling year has come to an end. Bye-bye 2015, and let's see what 2016 brings.

We ended the year with a raffle, and the lucky winners were:

FIRST PRIZE	Olles Jacyna	RED A 070
SECOND PRIZE	Lorna (Robert Klabbers)	GREEN C 039
THIRD PRIZE	J Dickson	GREEN C 001
FOURTH PRIZE	Rosemary Jones	RED C 026

Thanks to all who entered, and we hope you all have a safe and Happy Christmas. See you all in 2016.

A Hornsby Rockets Christmas Party

This year the Hornsby Rockets held their Christmas party a little earlier. On November 21st around 65 bowlers, carers and parents showed up at the Hornsby RSL for a great meal, wild and crazy dancing (pictures below) and the annual selection of Team Captains.

This year we had multiple ties!

Congratulations to the 2016 Co-Captains -- Amy, Lizzie, Tim and Natham.

We'd also like to thank Matt Keane MP, Member for Hornsby and Philip Ruddock MP, Federal Member for Berowra who both showed up, much to the delight of the bowlers.

Enough words. Here's the pics...

Wonderful decorations, thanks to Lesley and Lucy

Many, many happy faces

Philip and Matt and the gang

Dancing the night away

Oh yeah. Did I mention it was my birthday? It was my birthday. And a complete surprise that anyone was going to do anything about it. Thanks to the deviousness of certain friends and family members I received a delicious chocolate cake, a party hat and a kiss on the cheek from Candice.

Happy Birthday to meeeeee...

Lawn Bowls

It was a little while ago -- 30 August, to be exact -- but I've finally got off my butt to pose pic taken on the day. (Looks like everyone had a ball. I caught the flu that day, but other than that it was a blast.)

Everything's Coming Up Oranges

ORANGE COMPETITION

On Saturday 17^th October, the following bowlers:

Adam, Amy, Angela, Emma C, Karina, Natham, Tim and Warren

Travelled over the Great Dividing Range to compete in the Orange City Disability Championships. We had a long and tiring afternoon of bowling. Below are some of our great achievements:

SINGLES

Tim                   A turkey in a game of 172, also scored 26 pins over average for the series 

Adam                A turkey in a nice game of 164

Natham             Scored 18 pins over average for the series 

DOUBLES

Adam                A turkey in a nice game of 172

Natham             Scored 19 pins over average for the series 

TEAMS

Natham             Scored 35 pins over average for the series 

Tim                   Scored 22 pins over average for the series 

Warren              Scored 18 pins over average for the series

Pictures of the happy bowlers will be up soon!

(Thanks again to Natham the Statsman!)

Burlesque ROCKS

Hornsby Rockets is, aside from a few small grants it receives, a self-funded group. Much of the committee's efforts through the year involve fundraising, and the Burlesque night was one of the more successful.

Of course, "guys couldn't go" (not that I have a suitable dress for such an occasion), but I've managed to get some pics from the hugely successful night. (Thanks Anna!)

More Maitland

Thanks again to the Stats Man...

RESULTS FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SATURDAY 25^TH JULY

A GRADE MALE SINGLES                   1^st Adam Mandarano

C GRADE MALE SINGLES                   1^st Natham Constable                 3^rd Tim Wilson

A GRADE FEMALE SINGLES               2^nd Karina Peters

B GRADE FEMALE SINGLES               2^nd Emma Crompton                  3^rd Angela Moxham

C GRADE FEMALE SINGLES               2^nd Candice Lundie

B GRADE DOUBLES                            3^rd Emma Crompton, Angela Moxham

C GRADE DOUBLES                            1^st Tim Wilson, Natham Constable

           

A GRADE TEAMS                                1^st Adam Mandarano, Karina Peters, Mark Milner

B GRADE TEAMS                                3^rd Ben Barber, Emma Crompton, Angela Moxham

C GRADE TEAMS                                1^st Tim Wilson, Natham Constable, Warren Seymour

A GRADE MALE ALL EVENTS              1^st Adam Mandarano (Trophy)

B GRADE MALE ALL EVENTS              3^rd Ben Barber

C GRADE MALE ALL EVENTS             1^st Tim Wilson   (Trophy)             2^nd Natham Constable

A GRADE FEMALE ALL EVENTS         1^st Karina Peters (Trophy)

B GRADE FEMALE ALL EVENTS         3^rd Emma Crompton

C GRADE FEMALE ALL EVENTS         3^rd Candice Lundie

HIGHEST PINS OVER AVERAGE        Natham Constable (Trophy) with 71 pins over average

On Sunday the 26^th of July, 4 Rockets Bowlers participated in the Masters.

The competition was very tough. Karina Peters, Natham Constable, Adam Mandarano and Warren Seymour were the bowlers that competed.

The results were:  

MASTERS – FEMALE RESTRICTED    3^rd Karina Peters (Trophy)

MASTERS – MALE RESTRICTED        3^rd Natham Constable (Trophy)

Rockets to Maitland...

...actually, close to Maitland.

Last weekend (I know. I'm slow) some of the Hornsby Rockets made their way north to Rutherford (close enough to Maitland to call it Maitland) for a couple of days of bowling.

On Saturday we had a good turnout and the Stats Man (aka Natham) compiled the following highlights:

Singles 

Natham: 35 pins over average

Adam:   15 pins over average

Emma C: 5 strikes in a very nice game of 180

Doubles

Adam:  23 pins over average

Natham: 17 pins over average including a turkey

Teams

Mark M.:  33 pins over average including a 4 Bagger in a very nice game of 220 

Adam:  28 Pins over average Including games of 201, 200 and two turkeys

Tim: 21 pins over average

Ben: 18 pins over average including a 4 bagger in a game of 168

Natham: 18 pins over average

A few of the bowlers returned on Sunday for the Masters Comp, and as soon as I get the results of that, I'll post them. (Actually, with my track record lately, about a week after I get the results, I'll post them.)

Happy bowling everyone, and ladies, check out the Burlesque Night (22 August) link at the top of the page.

Brisbane 2015 - Wrap up

Apologies for the delay with this post, but life caught up to me and it's be really busy.

In case you're wondering, yes, we made it back from Brisbane safe and sound.

Sydney from the sky -- on approach from Brisbane.

Except for bowler Mark (L) who stayed behind with friends.

And the Wilson's. Except for them too. They got into their car and drove off into the sunset or some such thing. We'll see them again. I'm pretty sure we'll hear Mrs Wilson long before we even see her. (And I say that with the deepest of love.)

Saturday, if you all recall, was the Carers Challenge. Rockets put three teams together: Lesley and Anna, Tony and Ron, and Lucy and Mike.

Not wanting to expose and particularly poor bowler of the lot, I'll post the total score for the teams' two games and their average (total/4).

(If you remember, the actual real bowlers averages over their competitions a healthy 132.75)

So...

Anna and Lesley: 429 (average 107.25)
Tony and Ron: 417 (average 104.25)
Lucy and Mike: 379 (average 94.75)

We'll leave the bowling to the bowlers, I guess.

I've got hundreds (literally) of pictures from the trip that I will add to this site as soon as I figure out how to add a gallery. And I will.

But I'll leave you with this one, taken at the Outback Spectacular which was, as the name suggests, spectacular.

Howdy, y'all
Front Row: Lucy, Adam, Candice, Natham, Warren, Mark L, Emma M, Lesley
Middle Row: Angela, Jo, Robyn, Emma C, Amy, Annette, Karina, Anna
Back Row: Mike, Nick, Ron, Mark M, Tim, Dennis, Ben, Tony

Brisbane 2015 - Day the 7

First, a quick note from Stats Man, Natham:

          THURSDAY TEAMS

Adam                23 pins over average

Tim                   22 pins over average

Emma C           21 pins over average

Emma M           21 pins over average

          THURSDAY SINGLES

Natham             31 pins over average

Adam                20 pins over average

Tim                   20 pins over average

Candice            16 pins over average

Ben                  15 pins over average

Karina              Turkey in a game of 154

Nick                 Turkey in a game of 115

INTERESTING FACTS

Rockets Bowled

369 Games

Hitting 48985 pine

At an Overall average per game of 132.75 <~~ Ain't too shabby

Today was a "rest" day, in quotes because we did absolutely not rest.

After another buffet breakfast we braved the elements and headed to the Warner Brother's Movie World. 

No. Just, no.

The elements were actually pretty kind to us, the rain holding off until about ten minutes before we were planning on leaving. 

Up until then, we ate healthy foods:

No more than a billion calories, I reckon

We wore fancy hats...

Tim is "Puttin' On The Ritz"

Saw crime fighter fight crime...

Na-na na-na na-na na-na
Batman!

Spied exotic wildlife...

No, I don't want a tuppence. I want a chip.

And after all of that we headed out, en mass, to the "Presentation" dinner (in quotes because nothing was presented) and ate, drank and danced.

Say "cheese".
And wine.

Tomorrow is the "Carer's Challenge" and a challenge it will be. I'm predicting fewer numbers to add up. I promise I won't lie about our scores. Much.

Brisbane 2015 - Day 6

The final comp day this morning, followed by an afternoon at Science Future (always a fun diversion because -- SCIENCE!).

Hornsby Rockets attending Brisbane, 2015
Rebels. (I think that's what the sign means)

One of the thing many may not be aware of is that a trip like this is exhausting. And not just for the bowlers. The crowds, incessant noise and responsibility is tiring.

See?

Some of the bowlers, though, still had great form, even at the end of it all.

Natham and his excellent form

Natham, by the way, has been our Stats Man, providing me with the numbers I've been sharing with you all.  He's had remarkable turnaround times. Thank him the next time you see him.

It was also a day of new bowling balls:

I tat I taw a puddy-tat!
(Emma's got a whole new groove going on.)

After bowling was Science Future, and it was a blast.

It's Electrifying!

Adam is...taller

Play that funky music, boys

Amy quit while she was a head.

And another day done, dinner at Sizzler's. I'm pleased to report that everyone chewed thoroughly.

It's a free day tomorrow (Movie World, weather permitting) and Saturday morning is the Carers' Challenge where yours truly and a half dozen other Rockets parents/carers attempt the impossible -- breaking 100 in a bowling game.

Brisbane 2015 - Day 5

It's State Comp day, and Hornsby Rockets had representatives in both the Open Category (Adam M.) and the Restricted Category (Emma C and Natham C)

NSW Open Squad (Adam bottom left)

NSW Restricted Squad
(Natham Top Left / Emma Bottom Right)

Supporters were in abundance, usually decked out with fashionable head gear. The Melbourne Cup could learn a lesson or two.

Ron, looking his VERY best

I'm not going to pretend to fully understand how the scoring works. Some people do pretend, but I don't think anyone really, completely knows.

Anyway, at the end of a very long and crowded day, after the points for the winning teams and the winning pairs and pin falls (follow all that?), the results are in.

In a very tight set of games, the NSW Restricted Squad were pipped at the finish line by Tasmania, tied for third on points, but slipping to fourth on pin fall.

In an even tighter match, NSW squeaked by QLD on pin fall, grabbing the gold.

Adam, proudly showing off the gold.

It was an exhausting day for the bowlers. Congratulations to all of them, and well done. We're very proud or you all.

Brisbane 2015 - Day 4

A moment of silence while we reflect on the importance of chewing our steak thoroughly...

Why do these posts always end up talking about food?

Anywho, notable results from yesterday and today (thanks to Natham the Stats Man):

MONDAY TEAMS

Natham             30 pins over average

Tim                   27 pins over average including a turkey

Angela              26 pins over average

Emma M           19 pins over average including a turkey 

Adam                19 pins over average

MONDAY SINGLES

Adam               53 pins over average including a four bagger plus a turkey

                        Broke a record from 1998 for male A Grade singles

Tim                  39 pins over average

Karina             18 pins over average including a turkey 

Ben                 16 pins over average

Natham           15 pins over average

Mark L.            A turkey in a game 157

MONDAY DOUBLES

Mark M             17 pins over average

Karina               15 pins over average including a turkey

Adam                15 pins over average

And hot off the presses...

          TUESDAY DOUBLES 

Adam                27 pins over average including a 4 bagger

Mark M.            28 pins over average

Natham            26 pins over average

Emma M.          25 pins over average

Warren             18 pins over average

          TUESDAY SINGLES

Warren              27 pins over average

Mark M.            20 pins over average including a turkey

Emma M.          16 pins over average

Adam                A turkey in a game 201

It was a more relaxed start today. We even had a mascot.

This is Jasper. Say hi.

Jasper is the seeing-eye dog of a bowler from QLD who bowled so much better than me that I think I'll bowl with my eyes closed next time. I can't be worse than I am now.

But back to the Rockets.

Ron (you know Ron -- he's been here forever) has a very nice camera and spends much of the time taking pictures. (As you would.)

Cheeses. Ron would like Jo to stop that now.

Here's some of the pics he's taken of the bowlers for your viewing pleasure:

Karina, Adam and Mark L.

Emma W and Candice

Nick, Ben and Mark M

Angela, Tim and Warren

Amy, Emma C and Natham

That's the bowlers. Here's some of the so-called responsible carers and parents.

Michael (but I continue to call him Peter)

Annette the Lefty

Hmmmm.  Dennis

The Chrome Dome

Boss Lady

There are a couple missing. I'll get some compromising shots of them tomorrow.

And speaking of tomorrow, Wednesday is the "State Competition." NSW (yay!) versus QLD, VIC, WA, SA, and NT (did I miss anyone?). Makes State of Origin look like a pick-up game in the park. 

Best of luck to Adam, Natham and Emma C, as well as the rest of the NSW squad. We'll be cheering you on.