Congratulations go to Luke Sanders for his play in the national competitions at Wellington, and to Marion Jones and Norma Miller for their win in the Bronwyn Kay Pro Pairs against formidable opposition.
Gisborne
FOUR completed games on Saturday were enough to find a result in the $2000 Bronwyn Kay Women’s Pro Pairs at Gisborne Bowling Club before rain washed out play on Sunday.
With a perfect record, Poverty Bay’s Marion Jones and second-year bowler Norma Miller caused a boilover in a field that included several combinations with lofty national reputations.
When three of the fancied combinations were drawn in the one section it was always likely they would cancel each other out, allowing for an upset, and that’s what happened.
But take nothing away from Jones and Miller. They accounted for two of the “star” pairings in their four games, Kahutia legend Glenys Whiteman and Dayvinia Mills, and Hawke’s Bay’s Robyn Wallace and Mere Nepia.
In Section 1, Jones and Miller were clear winners with 12 points. Aucklanders Gaylene Harvey and Natarsha Grimshaw, with nine points and 31 ends won, were second ahead of Ohope’s Martie Sisson and Kathy Dempster-Rivett, also on nine points but with 29 ends won.
Section 2 was tight. Six teams had three wins, meaning that ends won determined the outcome.
The host club’s Queenie Takurua and Adrienne Smiler prevailed with 33 ends won. Teenagers Lucy Shanks, 19, and Paige Richter, 14, from the Kahutia club, were second with 28 ends won, ahead of another Ohope combination, Betty Herring and Chris Allan, who won 25 ends.
Champ of champs singlesThe club’s singles champions will be in action at Kahutia this weekend when the Bowls Gisborne-East Coast Champion of Champions singles players will be determined in six divisions.
Angela Gibson-Sam and Jim Wilson will be vying for honours among the bowlers with less than three years’ experience. Ginny Sherriff and Peter Gledhill take on the under-8 fields and senior champions Tanya Harrison and Jamey Ferris tackle their counterparts in the open event.
Kahutia
Richard Mann, Gary Tocker and Ron Davie won the Stonehaven Memorials Seven-point Trios this month.
With some players out of town, numbers were down.
The eight teams entered played four rounds of 70-minute games.
Over the same weekend, the Gisborne club hosted the champion of champions fours.
The section for men with up to eight years’ bowls experience had four team entries, as did the senior men’s section.
The young Gisborne team “dealt to” Kahutia but, with one life still intact, the Kahutia juniors reversed the result with a 13-12 win.
Well done, Joe Wimutu, Alan Parker, Frank McLoughlin and Ray Young.
The senior men also fared well, taking a life off the Gisborne and Tolaga Bay teams.
Poverty Bay then ended the hopes of Gisborne and Tolaga Bay.
In the final, it was one-way traffic as Kahutia’s Charlie Ure, Murray Murton, Ropata Ruwhiu and Harry Green cruised home with both lives intact.
Last weekend the McFarlane Family Trophy was at stake in the DB-sponsored pro pairs.
Numbers were down again, and 20 teams took part, playing four rounds of qualifying on Saturday.
The morning drizzle made for an interesting day with some interesting results.
After heavy and steady rain overnight, the start to Sunday’s play was delayed.
Around 11am, after the greens were rolled, the heavens opened again, leaving surface water.
For the safety of the players and for the protection of the greens, the tourney was cancelled for the day and the prizes were decided from Saturday’s play.
Vern Marshall and Chas Henry, with four wins and 37 ends won, were declared winners.
Runners-up were Arthur Hawes and Bruce Easton, with four wins and 36 ends won.
Third were Steve Goldsbury and Jamey Ferris, with four wins and 35 ends won.
The McFarlane Family Trophy was presented by Campbell McFarlane. Other awards were presented by DB representative Andrew Pitman.
Special draws were held and a barbecue followed. Thanks go to sponsors and all those who helped. — Blocker
