Around the greens

Gisborne

Two bowlers barely in their teens — Ashli Ferris, 14, and Nathan Trowell, 13 — caused a buzz of excitement around the greens when the Gisborne Bowling Club’s pairs championships were decided at the weekend.

The youngsters battled hard all weekend in the division for those with less than eight years’ bowling experience and almost bagged the pairs title at their first attempt.

In the final, they raced to an early lead but were run down over the last three ends, losing 20-16 to Gisborne sporting legend Ron Robertson, himself a first-year bowler, and Jim Wilson.

Internationally, many of the best bowlers are younger than 30, some still in their teens. But for some reason in Gisborne the “sport for all ages” has largely been the sport for the retired. Perhaps we are starting to see a generational shift.

Kahutia has the Shanks siblings, Leighton and Lucy, both still in their teens and both already centre champions, and there is a smattering of youngsters at Poverty Bay. Now Ferris and Trowell, along with Angela Gibson-Sam, 13, are starting to make their mark at Gisborne’s largest club.

Bob McIlroy (skip) and July Hoepo added the open men’s pairs title to the triples crown they won last month, twice beating Steve Goldsbury (s) and Robin Jefferson, 23-19 then 17-10 in the final.

Unluckiest losers in the championships had to be Jamey Ferris (s) and Ricky Miller. The pair lost by a mere point to Goldsbury and again to McIlroy, to the latter in an extra end.

Bobbie Beattie (s) and Tanya Harrison made hard work of winning the open women’s crown, coming from behind on the 18th end three times, including once having to score five points on the last end to advance.

Under the two-life system, Beattie met Queenie Takurua (s) and Karen Higgins three times.Takurua won the first clash 21-15 before Beattie turned the tables 17-16 with that dramatic five-point last end. In the final, Beattie was 19-18 down going into the last end but bagged three points for a 21-19 win.

In an early round, Beattie had been tied 17-all against Lyn Trueman (s) and Carol Hawes going into the 18th end before snatching a last-gasp 18-17 victory.

Beverly Davy (s) and Ginny Sherriff added the “under-eight” women’s pairs crown to the triples title they won last month but not before being upended 18-13 in the opening round by Jennie Evans (s) and Kym Brown.

After reversing the result 17-12 in their second clash, Davy and Sherriff raced to a 26-5 win against Evans and Brown in the final.

Earlier, Davy and Evans had both had close shaves against Barbara Gibson (s) and daughter Angela.

In all, 21 teams faced the starter’s bell across the four divisions and, had it not been a holiday weekend, there would have been several more.

Fours titles up next

For the first time, Gisborne will play its “junior” and open fours championships on different dates, giving juniors a chance to test themselves in open competition, either in junior teams or alongside senior bowlers. The two open events will be played this weekend. The date for the junior championships has yet to be set.

Poverty Bay

Men’s and women’s junior triples club championships were held on Monday.

The competition format was a two-life system with games played over 12 ends with no time limit.

Only two teams entered each section.

Winners of the men’s contest were John Fricker (skip), Dave Hooper and Mike Travers, who proved too consistent for opponents Tam Buckingham (s), Colin Evans and Chris Valentine.

Many heads were close, and some needed an umpire’s caliper measure. It was not until the second half of Game 2 that Buckingham’s team began to make their mark, but it was too late to influence the result.

The good sporting spirit in which the two games were played was a credit to all six members.

In contrast, the women’s competition was evenly balanced for all three games. Kym Walters (s), Kathryn Flaugere and Trish Leach took charge in the first game and with a four-shot score in End 7 went on to win the game 13-6.

Ngawai Turipa (s), Robyn Arthur and Hilary Silcox applied pressure early in the second game and further developed it to win the game 14-8 and square the match one game each.

The final was an extraordinary contest. Silcox, in particular, delivered some outstanding lead bowls. These were fully backed up by Arthur. Turipa turned on her “A” game and added her precise drawing for the team to lead 9-1 after five ends.

The Walters team would not be outdone and scored five shots over ends 6 and 7. On End 10, with a flash of brilliance, they took six shots to draw level at 12-all.

Turipa rallied and took End 11 by a single shot.

Starting the final end ahead 13-12, Turipa soon found herself down by four shots to Walters. She then produced a magnificent delivery which snaked through some short bowls to pick up the jack and take it towards the back bowls.

The result depended on a final close measure, which favoured Turipa and gave her team the title, 14-12.

All six players are to be congratulated on a fine contest that could have gone either way.

The last two ends were the cause of excited cheers and applause from the spectators, who were thoroughly entertained by some very competitive bowling.

The holding shot changed frequently, with inspired drawing from both sides.

Upcoming events

October 28 and 29: Open men’s and women’s pairs club championships.

November 4 and 5: Poverty Bay hosts the Centre Rahiwi Cup Women’s Open Fours.

November 7: Melbourne Cup Fun Day; 1pm start.