2024 What lies ahead is a wait and see.
Albert Saw, the manager and organiser of Coke Classic has retired from Bowlarama Newtown.

Archived Videos of Coke Classic Finals 
2009 The Final between Kurt Sturgess v Adrian Judd Video Part 1 LINK  Video Part 2 LINK 
2010 The Final between Adrian Judd v Craig Nevatt Video LINK 
2011 Stepladder Terry Mustchin v Julieanne Mollet Video LINK
2011 The Final between Chris Haynes v Terry Mustchin Video LINK 
2015 The Final between Daniel Webb (son) v Kevin Webb (dad) Video LINK
2019 The Stepladder 1 Pete Richardson v Julieanne Mollet v Megan Fletcher Video LINK 
2019 The Stepladder  2 Pete Richardson v Suzanne Howell Video LINK 
2019 The Final Game 1 Pete Richardson v Sonny Reguerra Video LINK 
2019 The Final Rechallenge Game 2 Sonny Reguerra v Pete Richardson Video LINK 
2020 The Final Game 1 & Rechallenge Game 2 James Kelly v Craig Nevatt Video LINK 
2021 The Stepladder 1 Greg Nicolas v Anthony Carbonell v Ben Pettit and Stepladder 2 Greg Nicolas v Ethan McKay and The Final between Craig Nevatt v Greg Nicolas Video LINK 
2022 The Stepladder 1 Brodie Hunt v Anthony Carbonell v Craig Nevatt and The Final Brodie Hunt v James Kelly Video LINK

Past Winners: 2009 - 2022 (formerly VIA Elite Classic, renamed Coke Classic from 2013)
2009 - the late Kurt Charles Sturgess (September 26th 1977 - June 13th 2017) 
2010 - Adrian Judd
2011 - Chris Haynes
2012 - Adrian Judd
2013 - James Kelly
2014 - Daniel Webb (Australia)
2015 - Daniel Webb (Australia)
2016 - James Kelly
2017 - James Kelly
2018 - Matthew Dickson (Australia)
2019 - Sonny Reguerra
2020 - James Kelly
2021 - Craig Nevatt
2022 - Brodie Hunt
2023 - Not Held
2024 - Not held
Bowlers participation data since 2009 Click Here

2023 A Startling Surprise
Coke Classic 2023 not held.
Craig Nevatt, James Kelly, Delfin DeGuzman and Tim Swain has attended every year (14years) Back then it was called VIA Elite Classic from 2009 - 2012 and renamed Coke Classic from 2013. Sonny Reguerra and Greg Nicolas missed one (13). Terry Mustchin and Dave Warwick missed two (12). Rey Non, Annabelle Swain and Jason Peters participated 11 times, Yoyo Muljono, Wayne Booth and Suzanne Howell (10). The conviction of these bowlers is a testament of how great this tournament is. 
This unexpected break has given me the opportunity to talk about something that bowlers do not like talking about. The Mental Health issues.
To be competitive at the highest level, your mental wellbeing is of utmost importance. One should do a self assessment if you have developed a sleeping problem and fluctuating moods. In most cases this is an early signal of mental illness. At it worst, it could lead to acute stress, depressions, anxiety disorders, unhealthy eating behaviours, disorganised thinking, delusions and social withdrawals which could affect your ability to function normally.
The Mental Health Issues – Your behaviour, Your mood and Your thinking.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) - is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event either experiencing it or witnessing it. One tends to develop an aggressive defence mechanism and becomes extremely wary leading to anger management issues, paranoia anxiety disorder and conversion disorder disability. A psychogenic pain that cannot be treated with medication. Please seek professional help.
Steve Blass syndrome – a sudden and inexplicable loss of ability. Some call this YIPS. Unusual involuntary neurologic spasms conditions destroy concentrations and spoils performance that leads to a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced bowlers. The symptoms of the yips are losing fine motor skills and psychological issues that impact on the muscle memory and decision-making of bowlers, leaving them unable to perform the basic skills. This is not uncommon for someone who is trying too much for self-improvement without realising your personal limits. You get trapped inside the trauma that you brought upon yourself. A Talk Therapy and psychotherapy might help. 
Narcissistic personal disorder (NPD) – an overexaggerated evaluation of oneself and a desire for acknowledgement. Behind this mask of extreme confidence, you are not sure of your self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism. You tend to have hidden feelings of insecurity, shame, humiliation and fear of being exposed as a failure. If you get disheartened easily and you have doubt, then you are not going to deliver. There will be good days and there will be bad days. It is how you will treat the bad shots or the bad events in a different perspective. There is this Biorhythm Theory(pseudoscience) by Wilhelm Fleiss who applies biorhythm cycles as a predictive agent for things such as health, well-being, and personal success. I wonder?
Here’s an unqualified advice. Overtraining your body does not compensate for undertraining your brain. Do love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it well. You decide your priorities and maximizing your life. Manage the distractions and ignore the nonsense. You cannot control the game, if you do not give control of yourself. When you suppress your emotions they get stored in your muscles, then your muscles tensed up, hence you cannot help but underperform. Stay focus on one thing if things get complicated. Relax. Take it easy. 
The difference is not in the anxiety but how you react to it. 

2022 The Call of the Juniors
This year entries were somehow depleted by the absence of some youth bowlers. They were at the IBF U21 World Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden and were unable to make it in time. Surprisingly, Coke Classic has seen an influx of participants from the Juniors. Corbyn Stephenson, a junior from Hastings made it to the Matchplay in his first appearance. How cool is that!
To be a competitive bowler, you have to compete to know that you have improved, regardless of the result. That’s what gets you going. You compete to see which competitors lies ahead in your future goals. You compete to gauge your mental strength in handling tight situation. Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. My salute to the juniors and the next string of youth bowlers for taking up this mammoth challenge. Your courageous effort and dedication will give NZ a hope in the sport of bowling. Impossible is not a fact, but an opinion.
The Qualifying patterns for this year is one of the toughest. Day 1 Long 44ft Track Ratio 2.44, Suzanne Howell, Brodie Hunt, James Kelly and Craig Nevatt bowled over 200ave. Anthony Carbonell bowled the Hi Game 0f 247. Only Devan Sahayam managed to bowl over 200ave on Day 2 Short 34ft Track Ratio 2.93, Brodie Hunt bowled the Hi Game of 258. The cut for the Top 15 for matchplay was a low 179 ave. Suzanne emerged as the top lady bowler.
Although the enthusiasm of the Qualifying Day resulted in some good scores, it starts to deteriorate as the games and lane change dragged on. The pitfalls of paralysis by analysis start to take effect. Fear and doubt, and a lot of other ancillary issues start to affect the mental stability of the bowlers as they try to find ways to attain better ball carry. Frustration and lack of self-confidence as bowlers forgot to exploit their own unique attributes that are manifested in themselves whilst in desperation, they try to emulate other bowlers hence creating further confusion. Self-inflicting anger and negative body language transmit unwelcome vibes made obvious to the viewers. As bowlers moved away from their comfort zone, simple spares were not converted. At this level of competition, one should focus on good feelings that makes your day instead of focusing on techniques on how to play the lane. Whatever is going on inside your head has everything to do with how well you end up performing.
The Matchplay was on a Medium 39ft with a track ratio of 3.96. Anthony Carbonell took advantage of this easier pattern to recover from a deficit of over 100 to creep into the Top 5 Stepladder. James Kelly as topseed chose the Medium oiling pattern for the Stepladder Playoff.
Stepladder 1
Brodie Hunt   X,X,X,X,X,X,9/,X,X,9/X = 258
Anthony C     7/,9/,X,X,9/,X,X,X,X,X8/ = 246
Craig Nevatt   X,X,X,8/,8/,9/,7/,6(3),X,6/8 = 195
Stepladder 2
Brodie bowled 181 to beat Suzanne Howell 167, who encountered a few splits.
Final Stepladder
Brodie Hunt defeated James Kelly 200 to 187 forcing JK to issue a Rechallenge.
James Kelly X,9/,X,X,X,8/,X,8(1),X,9/8 = 204
Brodie Hunt 9/,X,7/,X,X,9/,X,X,7/,X9/ = 216
It was a tight game. Brodie Hunt maintained his consistency when JK has an open frame in the 8^th
Timing and fate do not just happen out of coincidence. They are the products of earnest simple choices that make up miraculous moments. Being resolute, putting trust in your judgment and body reaction, that what makes timing. Hence if you are on a roll, don’t think, just do it.
Brodie, a gentle giant in his own way, has finally achieved glory on his 9^th year participating in this tournament. He has always portrait calmness and executes a smooth release. He manages his mindset, emotion and mood which are integral throughout the process of maximizing performance in achieving success. Now he is amongst the Best in NZ. 

2022 Coke Classic Stepladder Final Video Courtesy of Matt Balkham LINK
2022 Coke Classic Photos Courtesy of Matt Balkham Photography LINK
2022 Qualifying Results 
2022 MatchPlay and Stepladder Finals Results

2021 Coke Classic dodged a bullet
In the wake of a Covid-19 scare just a week before the Coke Classic, Wellington was put into Covid Alert Level 2. There was a lot of uncertainty in which direction Wellington would go. Wellington dodged a bullet and was reverted back to Alert Level 1. This year’s tournament, it’s one of those years where the past winners are no longer seen as probable favourites. There is a new wave on the horizon. The Coming of the Youth. A cluster of fearless young kids bowling with growing confidence.
Losing is not something that these youngsters would like to ponder. Hope is not a strategy. They have a simple plan. They do not spend more time thinking about what they are doing than doing what they are doing. They do not drift too far from their natural game. They do not get into too many technical things. The raw unadulterated impression is more important than learning something new. They just bowl. How nice is that? It feels Good.
Here is a piece of enlightenment for the youngsters. At this budding age, the main focus is not on Winning but on Your Success. Success is peace of mind knowing that you have made the effort to do the best version of yourself and have fun during that process. Learn to embrace yourself. When you invest in yourself, you make things happen. That’s when your judgment becomes your instinct during a match. Instinct is not just by training, but endless repetition to put you in the right position. This is the core of bowling.  You have to be yourself all the time to be true to yourself.  Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. Play your own inimitable brand of bowling. Cherish your youth. Once this unique fleeting time is gone, it is gone forever.  Also, learn to stay relaxed and getting a gauge to know where your mind is, and a sense of whether you are switch on or concerned about anything. You need to be feeling good when you are ready to start your day.
As we bowlers start to finetune the game of bowling, it gets sophisticated. The information on bowling equipment, bowling knowledge on lane conditions and acquiring the skill set from coaches creates further complexity. A simple approach helps to remove the clutter in your head. Be realistic with your bowling skill level at the Present, learned from your success and failures from your Past, and planned for your improvement for the Future. You need to find your own pace. When your body and mind are aligned with each other, you will find joy in bowling. That will elevate you to the next level. You are not there to make yourself better for other people. Bowling is a game where you play for yourself. It can be quite selfish. Maybe a tiny weeny bit towards narcissism. While being competitive is healthy, do make it a habit to practice fair play and sportsmanship in the spirit of the game. Our choices and our past always have a way of catching up to us no matter how hard we try to make them go away. Hence, play the game with dignity. There is this maxim, Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.  Respect is never a given, it has to be earned. 
DAY 1 Long 43ft 25.5ml 2.5:1The uncommon acquirements of 2-handed bowling by youth bowlers were a welcoming spectacle. Fourteen years old Osiris Cave who is the NZ youngest Perfect Game bowler achieved in early January this year and thirteen years old Ben Pettit who is the current NZ Open National Masters and National Champion, both made the top 10. Three Senior men averaged over 200 dominated Squad A. Terry Mustchin, Roger Tucker and Pete Richardson. The ladies, Suzanne Howell and Megan Fletcher positioned 5th & 6th will be having a tussle with each other, just 35 pins apart going into Day 2. In Squad B, two Pinoy bowlers Anthony Carbonell and Greg Nicolas took the overall top 2 spots averaging well over 200+. Unheralded resident bowler Jason Peters bowled consistently and is in the mix sitting on 8th. place. Greg bettered the Hi Game of 247 set by 4 times winner, James Kelly from Squad A with a 256 in Game 2 and improved it with a 257 in Game 4.
DAY 2 Short 37ft 28.6ml 1.58:1
Squad B started the morning with unfancied Matt Balkham bowling a 265 in Game 11 that seemed unlikely to be beaten on this trying condition. Christian Karatau had other ideas. In the last game of qualifying, he bowled a 277 to take the lead in the Hi Game. Squad A was to bowl next and in Game 14 Craig Nevatt started with an 8 spare for the first 2 frames and charged home with 10 baggers to pip Christian Hi Game on a 278. A desperate late surge by Carl Mollet 234, Brodie Hunt 258 and Sonny Reguerra elevated them to Top 15 Matchplay, leaving James Kelly as 1st alternate for Day 3. Craig dominated this short oiling pattern and remained as the only bowler to average out 200+. Suzanne Howell outlasted Megan Fletcher by 13 pins as the best-performed lady bowler.
DAY 3 Semi-Final Medium 40ft 26.55ml 2.63:1
Matchplay - Two very promising bowlers did exceptionally well to muscle their way into the Top 5 relegating the top seed Suz and 3rd seed Megz out of the stepladder playoff. Ethan McKay was the biggest mover from 14th spot to 2nd. Ben Pettit managed to bowl a mighty big game 221 with a maximum of 20 bonus points in the last game to oust Megz off by just 7 pins. Craig carried on his good form to move from 4th to 1st position. Greg and Antz make up for the other 2 spots at 3rd and 4th.
Stepladder Final – Craig as top seed chose the Short Oiling pattern 37ft. In the 1st Stepladder, Greg came out on top with a 195 over Antz 190 and Ben 175. Greg advanced to meet Ethan. Ethan encountered a few splits opening up the game to Greg. Greg won 206 to 145. In the Final Match, Greg had missed a couple of single-pin spare finishing off with a 182. Craig won with a score of 210.
It is hard to find words bigger than all the superlatives you can think of for the two finalists. Both have represented NZ for over 2 decades. Greg in the Adults and the Seniors. Craig in the Youth to Adults. Craig has been a bridesmaid in the Coke last year and stepladder finalists for a few occasions. Alas, on his thirteenth attempt, in this 13th Edition of Coke Classic. Craig Nevatt is now A Champion.
2021 Photos Link Courtesy of Matt Balkham Photograph
Video Link Video courtesy of Matt Balkham
2021 Matchplay/ FINAL Results Click Here
2021 Qualifying Results Click Here

2020 And then the COVID-19 strikes
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has caused concern leading to postponements and cancellations of tournaments and championships across the globe, with the 2020 Coke Classic being among those affected. Lockdowns and quarantines were enforced by countries at various levels, with NZ no different as the country went into COVID-19 Alert Level 4 at 11.59 pm on March 25th. Self-isolation, full lockdown, and zilch tournaments. Never before has the Coke Classic been played so late in the calendar, but thankfully NZ has prevailed with common sense to escape the worst of the pandemic, and now we get to reward ourselves with great sporting competitions.
This year’s version of the Coke Classic is special, being the first tournament to be played after NZ went into COVID-19 Alert Level 1, which for those overseas meant NZ people are essentially living life like pre-COVID but with border restrictions. However, it has seen reduced entries, as bowlers were finding difficulties in arranging travel arrangements and rationalising their finances in these uncertain times.
The past winners and finalists are here. It comes as no surprise cos when you have competed regularly in this Coke Classic, you gain a whole lot of perspective about the game on and off the lanes. You start to appreciate the familiar faces and camaraderie over the years. Each game is a good challenge, with each player on a mission to realise their dream. For the newbies and youth bowlers, the great thing about coming here is competing with some of the NZ representative bowlers, talking to them, and for them to know who you are and what you are made of and keen to do. The ladies add a bit of colour and threat to the guys.
Lane patterns - Day 1 Long 43ft, Day 2 Short 36ft, Day 3 Matchplay Medium 39ft. Track ratio for all the 3 patterns around 2.5 with the volume oil 25 - 26ml. It creates a heightened expectation for the bowlers that have participated here before to bring their top game and know how to recall their past experiences in handling these challenging oiling patterns. This year, a variable-viscosity lane conditioner was used which offers less slickness. The dense viscosity (81.0 cps) offers more resistance to the gradual deformation of the lane and the higher surface tension (33.3 dynes/cm) offers a more elastic tendency of fluid at the surface. This lane conditioner gives high rev bowlers more help in getting the ball to push down the lane and the lower rev bowlers will see more traction thus providing control and power. It should provide a good ball reaction for a broad range of bowling styles. The question, really, becomes whether you can consistently find your rhythm and bowl the ball arcing motion that gives the highest percentage for your ball carry. If you deviate from this, you will be required to convert a lot of your spares to achieve a favourable result.
Day 1, James Kelly, 3 times Coke Classic champion, took the Hi Game of 258. Brodie Hunt stays at the top of the table as the only bowler to pass 200+ average after the 8 Games.
Day 2, Another 8 games to bowl. A brilliant 1st Game by Craig Nevatt 11 strikes with a 9 spare in the 5th frame for Pin 6 to give him a 279 Hi Game. Craig used the Storm IQ Tour Red solid urethane. An OEM Ball. Selected release. Made in Japan. In the penultimate game, Terry Mustchin was sitting on 11 baggers. The house was in absolute silence as Terry delivers his last bowl. A solid pocket shot. Terry got burgled. Pin 9 the culprit. Terry finished with a 299. Terry bowled this game with a Radical Jackpot ball. This ball has a symmetric core with Scoop Technology. At the conclusion of qualifying (16 games) Craig Nevatt led with 7 pins over Brodie Hunt. They are the only 2 bowlers finishing on a 200+ average. Sean Powell was the biggest mover from 22nd place to 11th to make the Cut which was set at Top 15. The other big improver is Jason Peters, moving from 23rd to 16th place just 6 pins off the cut. He will be the 1st alternate.
The Top Female Qualifying Award goes to Julieanne Mollet. As expected, Julz and Suzanne Howell made the cut. A welcoming sight is another lady, Amanda Oliver in the matchplay. Wellingtonian Fiona Sopi was just 15 pins away. She will be the 2nd alternate.
Day 3 Matchplay. All pinfalls from qualifying are carried forward. James Kelly started with a roar. 11 strikes with an open frame, split 8 (1) in the 3rd frame. JK ended the matchplay as the top seed. Craig drops to 2nd after a low game in the last. Terry Mustchin 3rd Brodie Hunt 4th and Pete Richardson in 5th. Top 5 make the stepladder.
Day 3 Stepladder. A one-game roll-off. JK nominated the Medium 39ft oiling pattern for the Stepladder. The winner of 3rd, 4th, and 5th will meet Craig in the next stepladder. Terry advances, Craig started with an open frame but came back strongly to defeat Terry 227 – 192 in the next stepladder.
The Final: James Kelly vs Craig Nevatt
JK      9/, 8(/), X, X, X, X, 7(1), X, 7/, 9/6 = 206
Craig  X, 9/, 8/, 9/, X, 8/, 9/, X, X, XX9 = 225
As the top seed, JK has the right to a re-challenge.
JK     9/, 9/, 9/, X, X, 6/, X, 8(1), X, X9/ = 201
Craig X, 7/, X, 9/, 9/, X, 7/, X, 9 -, 7/X = 187
What a nail-biting finish.
To be a True Champion, you must back yourself. JK did just that. You need to exhibit a standard of performance that demonstrates the result of your work ethics - making sacrifices and commitment to continual improvement intelligently. It is an on-going process carried out with character and honour to earn the respect of your peers and competitors. It’s all about you and your decisions. Your attitude should focus on high performance and be genuine about your self-intention. You need the will and right way to take action. Then let your action dictate.
The Coke Classic has never failed to impress me. There is always something spectacular to report. This year was Terry 299 Game leaving a solid 9. Congrats to James Kelly on winning your 4th Coke Classic.
Final James Kelly v Craig Nevatt Video Link Video courtesy of Matt Balkham
2020 Qualifying Results Click Here 
2020 Matchplay/ FINAL Results Click here

2019 The sweetness comes after Ten
Once again the cold snap befalls upon Wellington. Due to work commitment and being on self-imposed laziness, I was not available to witness this year's Coke Classic. But all was not lost as there was LIVE SCORING. I was glued to my monitor all weekend, much to the displeasure of my family. What captivated me most was when I wished for a bowler to strike, it didn't happen. Just like any gamble, it seems like the house always wins.
In the qualifying stages, Day 1 Hi Game went to Julieanne Mollet with a 267 on a 44ft pattern. Track Ratio 2.38. Day 2 Hi Game went to Pete Richardson with a 279 on a 34ft pattern. Track Ratio 1.75. Day 3 Matchplay was on 40ft, track ratio 2.73, with the Hi Game shared by Craig Nevatt and Brodie Hunt on a 244.  Day 1 James Kelly was the sole bowler averaged over 200, whilst Day 2 saw Sonny Reguerra and Pete Richardson as the only bowlers average over 200 on the day. After 2 days of qualifying, only Sonny averaged over 200. This year an injection lane conditioning machine was used instead of the padded machine, which made the challenging oil patterns throughout even more interesting.
8 ladies took up the challenge against the men and 4 made the Matchplay, those being Julieanne Mollet, Suzanne Howell, Megan Fletcher and Christine Rota. Impressive indeed. Julz and Megan were in the Stepladder 1 with Pete. Pete was triumphant and carried on the good form in Stepladder 2 against Suz which he also came out on top of. The Final Stepladder proved to be a tough battle between Sonny and Pete. Sonny had shown his prowess in the opening days to finish as the top seed and the last remaining bowler to victory, but Pete, the challenger had momentum on the finals day. Sonny had a bad break with an open frame 6-2 in the 4th but finished off with 6 baggers for 221. Pete was on a closed frame but needed to produce a similar finishing to overtake Sonny's 221. Pete held his nerve and finished with 4 baggers and a 9 spare for a 228. Sonny as top seed had the right for a rechallenge. After another fairly even start, it was Pete's turn to suffer the misfortune from the bowling gods, with an open frame in the 4th 8-1 and 8 - in the 9th. Sonny continued to bowl steadily as he had all tournament and finished with a 235 to Pete's 191 to end as the deserved champion. Sonny has been bowling in this event since its inception in 2009 and comes close to being a champion on several occasions. Today was His Day. Good on ya mate.
In stepladder playoff, the key is to keep repeating the same shot and closing all the frames, as you won't have a second game to recover from an open frame.
For the qualifying stages and matchplay, a bowler should keep their composure, staying concentrated, regardless of the situation and regardless of what is happening around you. As they say, keep cool and stay calm, but don't stray from your natural game. Along with your determination and grit, success will follow.
This is the tournament where NZ Outstanding Bowlers are remembered.
2019 Matchplay & Stepladder Click here
2019 Qualifying Results Click here

2018 The Aussie had the final say. 
Coke Classic is one of the toughest tourneys to bowl in. The lanes at this venue are demanding, closed to being unkind. And yet it attracts high calibre bowlers throughout NZ and from across the ditch viz. Matthew Dickson, Nicholas and Bradley Logozzo. To the elite bowlers, its the last hurrah to conquer and complete their bowling resume. 
Day 1 (44ft) and Day 2 (35ft) produced only 5 bowlers averaging above 200s respectively. David Brown took the Hi Game of Day 1 with 278 and Pete Richardson on Day 2 with 249. Suzanne Howell took the Ladies Hi Game with an impressive 259. All Aucklanders. Matthew Dickson of Australia qualified 1st for Top 15 Matchplay, followed by Sonny Reguerra of Auckland and David Brown as the only 3 bowlers to ave over 200s on Combined pinfalls. 2 ladies, Suzanne Howell and Christine Rota made the Cut. Day 3 Matchplay produced intense competition with 5 very deserving bowlers into the Final Stepladder Playoff. Sonny stayed at the top, David Brown 2nd, Matthew 3rd, James Kelly (defending Champion) 4th and 2011 Winner Chris Haynes of North City Tenpin sneaking in for 5th. The highlight of the day was the 1st Stepladder playoff. Chris did not have a good run, but JK and Matthew put on a show. JK started with 5 baggers and 4 baggers at the tail end with an unfortunate open frame in the 8th for 245. It looks like an unbeatable score. Matthew had the early jitters with an open frame followed by 2 spare frames. Looking mediocre indeed. An incredible change of fortune happened. Matthew found a patch of purple with a 9 bagger home run to secure the win on a score of 256. Matt disposed of David in Stepladder 2 to face Sonny in the Final. Matt won the 1st 218 to Sonny 215 forcing a rechallenge from Sonny. Sonny hit the pocket well, but it's just not his day to strike. Matthew won 222 to 180. The final was played on burned lanes. The immense experience and skills shown by the finalists in handling this challenging lane condition desire great respect. Well done.
Knowing the lanes you are going to bowl in is important. Since the advent of synthetic lanes, achieving consistent levelness throughout a bowling center is a very painstaking task and the tools used to level lanes in a more efficient manner have not been available unless you can afford a Kegel Lane Mapper. Rarely do synthetic lanes have a consistent character due to specifically manufactured hardness, friction or wear properties of the synthetic lanes. Hence all manufactured synthetic lanes are different; even the colour of the synthetic layering could be annoying to some bowlers. The lane oiling process is another area worthy of knowing. Many bowlers are carried away with the oil volume and oiling pattern, forgetting the simple fact that there is no oil from where the pattern length ends to the pin deck. The backend is always Dry! Its only the head and the midlane that bowlers need to worry about. Reverse oil controls the amount of oil in the front part of the lane. Forward oil controls the shape of the pattern to the end. "Hold" is what prevents the ball from hooking on the lane. Hold is created by the length and amount of oil in the midlane. The more reverse oil in relation to the forward oil, the longer the pattern will last and the smaller the transitions. These lane differences may determine a bowlers equipment choice for the day or where to play on the lane. It will cause the oil pattern to change in a different manner from day to day, squad to squad, pair to pair and even lane to lane. Once the midlane is broken down, it will make the ball unstable at the exit point, hence the adage that if in trouble, the safest way is to play deeper inside. 
Finally, every center has its own characteristic - an area of the sweet spot and the right type of arsenal (ball hardness) to carry the strike. You could be accurate all day to the pocket but if the carry is not good, you got a problem. To give yourself the best strike percentage, using the correct ball and finding the best line with the right shape of your ball path to the pocket is a Must. You can finetune the ball carry by varying your release and ball speed.
A desperate measure to handle the midlane crisis is to follow the track that is bowled by others on the lane. If you are travelling away for a tournament, always carry a ball with a drilling spec for it to go straight and long with an easy to manage reaction at the end. That's the 'Go-To Ball" It never fails in times of desperation.
Congrats to Matthew Dickson. Hope to see more from across the Tasman in 2019
Qualifying Results Click here
MatchPlay/ Stepladders Click here

2017 New faces add glamour to the tourney.
The cold winter weather has never dampened the enthusiasm of the participants. This year is no exception with a few more new faces to seek the pot of gold. The long and short oiling patterns were much more challenging.
Day1, defending champion James Kelly started with a 279 game that looked unlikely to be challenged. But at the last of the 8-Game series, unheralded Jason Peters bowled a 9 spare, followed by 10 baggers and a 9 to finished off with 289. Thus receiving an exclusive bowling ball for the Hi Game of the Day. JK led Day1 43ft oiling pattern with a 223.3 ave. 7 bowlers managed a 200+ ave. One Aussie and 6 Aucklanders. Day2 33 ft oiling pattern, we saw the 2016 NZ National Champion Sonny Reguerra bowled the Hi Game of the Day with 277. 5 bowlers ave over 200. Matthew Dickson from Australia with James Kelly, David Brown, Sonny Reguerra and Jason Waters. With the Combined pinfalls, Brodie Hunt of Auckland also averaged over 200. The cutoff for the Top 15 Matchplay was an unseemingly low average of 187.9 Suzanne Howell and Christine Rota were the only ladies to make the Matchplay. Day3 39ft oiling, there was a tussle for the 4th and 5th placings for the Stepladder Final between Matthew Dickson, Jason Waters, Chris Haynes and Brodie Hunt. JK, David Brown and Sonny positions were safe. In the Stepladder, Match1 Jason Waters bowled 219, Matthew Dickson 220 and Sonny moved on to Match2 with a 224 to challenge first time participant, David Brown. David prevailed with a 232 to 196. A low scoring Match3 saw JK defeated David with a score of 194 over 171. JK wins the Coke Classic for the 3^rd time. Thus receiving the new perpetual Rimu handcrafted trophy with paua inlaid.
Much of the talk after the Classic had been the performance of JK who led all the way. A bowler respected for his relaxed manner and an unabashed approach to the sport. The adage,”You bowled against the lanes and not the bowlers” rings true. You can’t control how the other bowlers going to bowl, so there’s no point in having a tension. It is more to do with the recognition of how you are feeling and not to be vulnerable. There’s a strength that comes from having some acknowledgment about your emotional responses and drives.  To be resilient it is not about just being stoical. Its also about making personal choices and responses. Although you cannot choose what happened eg lanes breakdown, big backends, bowling building pillars, you can choose how to respond in a positive manner. Mindfulness makes it easier to deal with the issue. Single focus with consciousness towards your target and line, follow your breath brings you back into the present moment.You will start to manifest increased calmness and a feeling of pleasantness. It is what’s going on in your head that’s creating the angst and worry to perform. Make yourself very present. Nothing more, nothing less. Your destiny is in your hand, the score and how you bowl is governed by your self competency in execution and handling the pressure. Be self-focused and the simple pleasure of being there.
If you do put in the practice, do practice with a purpose. It builds resilience in a mentally testing game. The ability to create shots that suit the circumstances instead of playing every shot the same. Be creative and versatile. To do this you need to understand the lanes.
1. The different pattern of oiling - determines the shape and trajectory of your shot  
2. The program sheet info - eg 2 to 2, the number of loads and the speed of the oiling machine will determine the hold you are going to get from swinging the ball towards the gutter for it to come in
3. The volume applied and the viscosity of the lane conditioner/oil - type of ball to use ie matt or pearl, coverstock and drilling specs of the ball
The rest is mental - your ability to shut out all external negativity

2016 Coke getting international attention
Winter has well and truly arrived. Typical cold and wet Wellington afternoon greeted the bowlers to a weekend of intense participation.
Perhaps, the most challenging tournament in New Zealand, the Coke Classic also offers an attractive prize payout and the opportunity to compete with top NZ and overseas bowlers.
The unavailability of the defending champion from Australia has opened up the tourney. Up pop the bowlers from New Caledonia viz. Phillippe Champeil, Jean-Pierre Mengin, Domenico Di Fonzo and the ladies Stephanie Leviette and Mylene Mitride. From Australia the youthful Matthew Dickson. 25 percent of the field are ladies. Three of New Zealand's top youth - Leon Fox, John Miklos and Ash Ball also participated. To them, bowling in this high octane event is fulfilling a lifetime of aspiration and hope of achieving results. Watching their high performance and the hammering of the lanes with the very best of equipment doubles my admiration. Seeing the daring youth and ladies triples it. Its all about positivity. They put shame to those competitive bowlers that chose an easier route to gain national ranking points. You have this one life, make yourself proud. Be Brave.
The past winners of Coke Classic have become household names within the NZ bowling fraternity. The seal of Greatness. No one can deny that.
Wellington regional bowlers from Porirua, Lower Hutt and Newtown have seized the challenge to have their skills, attitude and all-round charisma tested. It tells you a lot about a bowler that is prepared to commit to doing something above and beyond, which is a characteristic and quality you look for as a selector, especially when you have choices. Qualities such as a willingness to give up time become a critical factor in the decision-making process. It contributes to the roundness of an individual.
Day 1 lane condition of 43ft was obviously conducive to high scores. There was a line for a number of bowling styles by adjusting for the difference in the lanes across the centre. Daniel Ellis from Christchurch took the HiGame of the day with 278 thus receiving the Rotogrip Eternal Cell. There were 9 bowlers averaging over 200s with James Kelly of Waitakere coming on top.
Day 2 Short oiling 33ft is definitely a day of just hanging in there; hit the headpin and hopefully leave a gettable spare. The lanes were tight, condition changes rapidly. Seasoned bowlers have to draw on their experience to make constant adjustments to find the carry for the pins, ball in line, watching the ball reaction, choosing the right equipment and ball surface. The only hope was to focus on the process for the lanes to open up. Lanes transition and irregularities making it tough as. Only 2 bowlers averaged over 200s with Sonny taking the HiGame of 259. He received the Storm Lock. Suzanne Howell from Counties/Manukau was the top lady bowler thus receiving the Storm IQ Tour 30 ball. Greg Nicolas from Wellington topped the combined Day1 &; 2 Qualifying stages for the Day3 MatchPlay.
Day3 39 ft oiling in MatchPlay mode we see the future of NZ bowlers in action. NZ promising youths, Leon Fox from Invercargill and John Miklos from Wellington bowled superbly against the adult national bowlers and thus making the 5 spots Stepladder finals. Leon at 2nd and John Miklos on 5th. The other 3 were Sonny Reguerra from Counties Manukau, Chris Haynes from Porirua and sitting on 1st is James Kelly from Waitakere. Sonny is the 2016 New Zealand National Champion, Chris and James were previous champions of Coke Classic 2011 and 2013 respectively. As they approached the end of matchplay, John Miklos was bowling with a raw cut blister on the inside of his thumb. This is the first major for youthful Leon with everyone watching his every frame. He will be an awesome bowler if he can find the opportunity and support to compete in Asia and learned from that experience. John Miklos immense improvements is evidence of his participation at the Milo Junior Allstars for the past 2 years in Malaysia. The other notable NZ youth bowlers that went through this route were Bianca Tofilau, Angela Boswell, Jess Swain, Zane Carlson and Joshua Stretton. Its an eye-opener to see the competitiveness and positivity coming from all the youths from Asia and Australia. NZers are a giant step behind.
In the Stepladder final, JK as top seed selected the 39ft oiling pattern. Chris Haynes emerged top over Sonny and John. With all the limelight on the rising star Leon, his smooth sailing came to an end to a very experienced bowler, Chris. Chris then succumbed to JK accurate bowling of 256 to 191. JK used the Storm Phaze throughout the weekend. JK received NZ1700 dollars and the Storm Marvel Maxx 2 ball. Chris received NZ$900 and a high-end bowling ball. The top 3 to 8 received cash as well.
I may have touched on this before, but it bears repeating here for those who cannot remember. It was said the lane condition has a reverse block on the outside. It was said the lane irregularities and transition comes early for some lanes. It was said that you need to work the ball to have a higher strike rate. Lots of things were said! It isn't so much the toughness of the lanes, it is more about one's mental toughness in repeating shot after shot. In this tourney, some say "Good was good enough" but it doesn't often hold true. If you have an ounce of negativity, you will not be a champion.
Success is also about Consistency. The well-prepared competitor will display this and assert their dominance. Bowlers can analyse the ball speed, rev rate, launch angle, accuracy to various points throughout the lanes and entry angle to the pocket, but if your "laydown point" is off, you will never get the repeat shots. Ball fit, posture and stance to spine angle, flexion of the knee at release, footwork in regards to the spacing between steps, the speed, direction of the feet and heel placement, the swing plane and the proper release point of the thumb in relation to the ankle will get you into that comfort zone for bowlers core consistency.

2015 A Historical Day in Bowling.
Against all odds, the Webb duo defied the probability of a repeat to a one-two finish, by doing just that. Youthful Daniel Webb as Top seed opted for the Long Flat Oiling pattern of 43ft. Father and son were using the Storm Crux to achieve this day in history. This should go down in the Guinness Book of Records.
Day 1 Wellington weather was unkind. Wet, cold and pouring. Bowlers from all over NZ including 7 ladies and our neighbouring Australia were keen to hone their skills in this Long Oil pattern. Only 4 bowlers managed to achieve an average of over 200 from 8 games. Frustration let to overriding emotion. Some bowlers took the drastic step of sanding their balls which exacerbate their mental gameplan. Daniel Webb topped Day 1 with 234 ave. To everyone's surprise Phil Turner of Wellington played with a fire in his belly, taking the Hi Game with a 276 and was presented with a RotoGrip Monarch ball.
Day 2 The weather took a turn. A fine nippy day. The Short Oiling pattern of 34ft has always been the downfall of many a great bowler. This year it was devastating. Many fell off the wagon. Only Chris Haynes of North City Tenpin Porirua managed a 200 ave. Hi Game went to Greg Nicolas of Wellington with a mere 255 and received the RotoGrip MegaCell for his effort. Lynne Churchill as top female bowler received the Storm Supreme Domination.
Daniel Webb managed only a 180 ave but it was good enough to go through as top seed with the Combined pinfalls, and was the only bowler with a 200+ ave for the Semifinals on Day 3.
Day 3 SemiFinal on Medium Oiling 39ft for the top 15 qualifiers. The Churchill mum and daughter from Strike Lower Hutt were the only ladies to make the cut. The Top 5 - Daniel Webb, James Kelly, Sonny Reguerra, Kevin Webb and Craig Nevatt made the Stepladder playoffs. The change to the Long oil pattern led to a low scoring game between Sonny, Kevin and Craig. Kevin triumphed with a 180 game. ; Kevin then proceeded to meet James and won 219 to 185. History was then made as Daniel Webb defeated his dad Kevin 204 to 178.
The Big question is what went wrong with the others. To put it in a better way, what went right for some. Bowling is a pretty simple game of "Step Here, Throw There" approach. All you need is to get the right equipment and your fundamentals right. The fit to your ball is of utmost importance. Followed by finetuning the drill specs on the ball for best reaction and best overall motion to give you the best result. The ball coverstock and weight block technology together with the out of the box grit to optimise the ball performance does not leave much room for sanding. I am not a fan of ball sanding. It would only jeopardise the ball carry. Bowlers need to know what they are capable of and prepared to do. Do not blame the ball grit or the tough lane condition. Bowlers need to maintain a good cadence with the right balance and execution of shot by keeping it simple and not overcomplicating it. Finding the best line and shape makes all the difference in reinforcing your accuracy and the carry in getting the best strike percentage. Bowlers' self-belief in their mental strength in dealing with any situation that has a negative effect, is a must.
Finally, I doubt that the natural tendency for bowlers to look elsewhere for poor performance will ever change.
Sometimes worth knowing. Get to know the type of oiling machine used in that centre and the lane conditioner used as there is a difference in viscosity and surfactants. Be aware of the temperature in the bowling center and its proximity to door access. In other words, understand the circumstances that make up the environment in the centre. Avoid selecting the squad with too many high revs bowlers cos their hi tech balls will affect the ball path and ball reaction at the breakpoint. Know your opponents play and know when to bowl deep. Have a range of balls with different grit and polish. Not only will this help you in making the quick adjustment, but it can also affect the performance of your opponents.
Tenpinwellington would like to congrats Daniel Webb on his fine achievement.
We have become accustomed to the narrative that to become a champion requires sacrifice, commitment, self-obsession and continuing to develop the game through dedication and determination to succeed. Last year Daniel won with a wristguard on, 6 months ago Daniel took the drastic change to bowl without the wrist guard for more versatility. It looks like it has paid off. He got the $$$$ and the Storm Zero Gravity Gold ball.
My salute to your coach Eric Jang and your unbridled passion to tactical and technical perfection.

2014 Coke Classic on July 4 - 6th
Aussie Rules.
A young laddie and a grand senior bowler crossed the Tasman from Oz and totally dominated the 2014 Coke Classic. Both have contrasting styles and approaches, but they have a similar exit point to maximise their strike rates and spares shooting. This year all three oiling patterns were set by a renowned overseas professional. For the New Zealanders, there is no point in exploring for excuses. Many spares were not converted. The Aussies have a better understanding of the oiling patterns put down by a Kegel padded oiling machine which has limitations but offered a well-defined line. By adapting their speed and release the father and son duo were more consistent in their shots. Additionally, their bowling knowledge and experience allowed them to handle lane transitions better than the others.
Youthful Daniel Webb topped Day 1 with a 205.25 average and Kevin Webb topped Day 2 with 213.75. Kevin also took the Day 2 Hi Game of 268. Day 1 Hi Game went to Jason Waters of Auckland with the same score of 268. On Day 3, the top 15 qualified for Matchplay. Suzanne Howell of Auckland was the only lady to make the cut. Daniel and Kevin were 1st and 2nd respectively.
In Matchplay, Kevin turned the table and took top honour followed by Daniel, 3rd was Chris Haynes (2011 Champion) and 4th was James Kelly (2013 defending champion). Highlights of the day was JK 299 game in Game 4 with the ball going high, leaving Pin 3 on lane 5/6; Rey Non of Wellington had the most bonus points, but finished 5th. Total pinfalls from Day 1 &; 2 were carried forward to Matchplay. The Top 3 went into Stepladder format with the top seed nominating the oiling pattern. Kevin chose the 33 feet. Daniel Webb disposed of Chris Haynes of Auckland in the first stepladder. There was no love lost when the father and son faced each other, with Daniel winning the match. As top seed, Kevin had the right to a rechallenge, but once again fell short. Daniel had a couple of doubles on Brooklyn and was crowned the 2014 Coke Classic Champion.
The Aussies had a good time winning top dollars$$$$ and the special prizes (Top of the range international bowling balls).
All smiles and everything nice.

2013 Coke Classic June 28 - 30
A spectacular Finale
Atrocious weather wreaked havoc with strong gale and torrential downpour in Wellington on the weekend prior to this tourney. The storm was merciless, ripping off part of the roof. Bowlarama Newtown centre had to make a judgment call whether to proceed with the tourney. It was a brave decision. High praises all round for the preps that went into getting the lane ready and the machines operating without any hiccups. Bowlers complimented on the slide of the lane approach. This glamour tourney of 2013 kicked off with a trouble-free start and finished with a great appreciation from all the participants and spectators. There was still plenty of prizes with $$$$, balls and bags, gifts to the ladies participants and the visiting Aussie bowler. A nice gesture indeed.
Day 1 Short oil, 8 games block was dominated by Craig Nevatt with a 205.75 average.
Day 2 Long oil, James Kelly bowled a 223.5 average for the 8 games block to take the lead and the top spot for the Semifinal matchplay.
A further 7 games were played on Medium oil for the 15 qualifiers. James Kelly took the lead, averaging 230.14 for the 7 games. Sonny Reguerra 2nd and Chris Haynes 3rd. JK nominated the medium oiling for the stepladder final. Sonny easily disposed of Chris Haynes (2011 Winner) 256 to 162, Chris running into problems with 3 open frames. In the 2nd stepladder, Sonny Reguerra (2013 TBNZ Adult National Champion) finished with 203. James Kelly (2012 TBNZ No1 ranking Adult Bowler) was on 154 at the 8th frame with a strike on the 9th frame. JK needed a turkey on the 10th frame to win. Two strikes and a 9. Its a Tie leading to a two frame roll-off. Both of them strike the first frame. Then Sonny did a double strike and an 8. JK had a split. It finished 58-24 to Sonny but JK executed the right for a Rechallenge. Sonny started with a rare 9 open. JK did a 9 spare. Sonny 5 baggers the next to take 19 pins lead. JK then 4 bagger and a 9 spare to finish with 238. A strike would have shut out Sonny. Sonny replied with a spare, strike, spare and needed a turkey in the last frame for a Tie. The crowd was on their toes. Strike by Sonny. Cheers. Sonny strike again. Exhilarations then silence. Both strikes were flush. Sonny took a moment longer for his last shot and just missed the mark for an 8 count. There were tons of sighs and applause. What a fine display of accuracy and concentration by both bowlers. Definitely the best show in town. This tourney has never failed in offering a spectacular finale. 
James Kelly ; 9/, X, 9/, X, X, 9/, X, X, X, X9/ = 238
Sonny Reguerra ; 9-, X, X, X, X, X, 9/, X, 9/, XX8 = 236
The visitor from Australia, Daniel Webb (2012 Sydney Youth Cup Champion) finished 4th averaging 201.13 for 23 games. Daniel is a bowler that does not let the pattern dictates his bowling. He dictates his own play with a good relaxed arm swing and a smooth follow-through under the tutelage of Eric Jang.
As always, this tourney is well attended by the elite bowlers in NZ. Battles are fought with courage. The qualifiers are highly respected. It gives bowlers with skill, attitude, ethics and capability with the best possible chance to gauge themselves amongst the elites on an equal platform and giving TBNZ selectors the opportunity to observe the bowlers that possess the right attitude and dedication for international tournaments. The format of this tourney exposes a bowler consistency of performance and result, ability and versatility in the range of shots, ability to adapt to different playing conditions, technical and tactical ability and mental aptitude; and demonstrates values and behaviours via preparation and readiness, body language and personal responsibility. No blame. No excuses
Its aghastly disappointing that a lot of the Wellington competitive bowlers went MIA and did not seize this opportunity to prove themselves amongst their peers when now is the time to turn all your promise and potential into something tangible. Sad.
My hat off to the following Wellingtonians Tim Swain, Yoyo Muljono, Greg Nicolas, Wayne Booth, Billy Te Tau, Delfin De Guzman, Kaleb Allardyce, Hamish McGrigor, Dave Warwick, Chris Ball, Jason Peters, Roger Tucker and Ivena Heald for their gutsy participation. Wayne, Roger, Greg, Kaleb, Ivena and Delfin made the Semi Final matchplay. Well done.