History of the Inter Island Tours
Inter Island tours started in 1980 as a result of reaction among bowlers who thought that the 1979 International Tour to Australia was rather expensive and more emphasis should be placed on New Zealand competition.
This resulted in internal tours being started, with one Island touring the other Island culminating in an annual Inter-Island match. The first such tour took place in 1980 with the North Island touring the South and narrowly winning the inaugural Inter-Island match in Blenheim.
The South Island toured the North in 1981 and in 1982 the North toured the South again. South beat the North Island for the first time in 1982. There was no tour in 1983 as that year New Zealand played Australia. From 1985 Island Tours have been held every year.
Initially the Island teams comprised of a team of seven men and seven women. The playing format was men and women's fours, pairs and singles at each venue with all games relatively long (18 to 21 ends).
The executive made a deliberate decision in 1986 that players selected for the national team would not be eligible for the island teams.
Over the years the playing conditions have been modified with triples being introduced in 1988 which increased the team size to ten men and ten women.
In 1989 the North Island won the Inter-Island match by 31 points to 17, thus making them the first winners of the Henry-Eddy Trophy, presented by Brian Henry and Kevin Eddy for annual competition between the North and South Island teams.
Brian Henry was elected to the Federation Executive in 1983 going on to become President in 1991 before he went overseas. Kevin Eddy was elected to the executive in 1978 and went on to be elected President in 1985. He served on the executive until 1992 and he was elected a Life Member for his services to indoor bowls at the 1992 Annual General Meeting.
The conditions of play for the district matches now consist of the best of three sets. In singles the set consists of twelve ends, in pairs and triples and fours each set consists of nine ends. Each set has a time limit of 45 minutes. This usually produces a very interesting competition with the winner being decided upon the total aggregate of set points. If equal the match is drawn.
In the Inter-Island match, the winner of each event is decided on the best of three games. The fours game is 18 ends while the singles, pairs and triples consist of 21 ends. All games are played without time limit and the winner of the Henry-Eddy Trophy is decided on the total aggregate of all 24 games. If drawn on game points, then a count back of ends won, then points scored decides the winner.