By Jonathan Leask  February 10, 2012

They might move a bit slower but when you get them all together they are like a bubbly bunch of school kids.

The Mid Canterbury over 80s bowls tournament showed that no matter how old you are, you can still possess an adolescent spirit.
The wealth of experience that took to the Ashburton MSA bowling green tallied more than 2400 years, with 10 teams of three at-least-eighty-year-olds.
However, they showed that bowls could be the fountain of youth.
Their minds are still sharp, the enthusiasm abounds, and the skills are still there for all to see, with a sprinkling of competitive spirit.
"There is a wealth of experience out there and it's great to see so many bowlers still rolling up past 80," Mid Canterbury Bowls' Wendy Suttie said.
They still play some pretty fair bowls and there is still a lot of competitiveness out there."
Among the seniors, Henry Hunt had the honour of being the elder statesman at 95.
"I've been playing bowls since 1960," Hunt said.
"My form's a bit rough at the moment but I'm still getting used to my bowling arm.
"I've only recently started using it, but with it I'm still able to play which is the main thing."
Hunt summing up the theme of the day, that age is no barrier and you can always have a bit of fun.

Pictured: Like a group of schoolchildren, only a touch older. Players in the over 80s bowl's tournament enjoy a break in play at the MSA bowling Club yesterday.

Photo Kirsty Graham