Poverty Bay winning men’s pair: Steve Berezowski (skip, left) and Bruce Ball with their trophy. Picture supplied
Poverty BayClose games were a feature of the Poverty Bay Bowling Club championship open pairs held at the weekend using the two-life system.
The women’s final was won by Jan Powell (skip) and Kathryn Flaugere, who defeated Diane Christie (s) and Kathy Carroll 14-10.
Two of the club’s senior women, Dawne Abraham (s) and Lesley Holmes, played some good bowls and defeated Diane Christie and Kathy Carroll in the first round 10-8.
Dawne and Lesley also defeated experienced pair Betty Herring (s) and Val McGreevy 20-11 in the third round.
The only junior pair competing in this open event, Kym Walters (s) and Norma Miller, had one win and lost their second life to Diane Christie and Kathy Carroll 14-10.
Eight pairs competed in the men’s championship, which was won by Steve Berezowski (s) and Bruce Ball who defeated Jon Davies (s) and Peter Walters 21-8 in the final.
Peter has only recently returned to bowling after a two-year break due to an injury so was pleased to make the final.
Mike Chisholm (s) and Larry Kaloucava played well to win three games on Saturday and progress to the semifinals, in which they were defeated by Jon Davies and Peter Walters.
The competition had surprises, such as Ian Greeks and Bruce Gledhill defeating Steve Berezowski and Bruce Ball 18-10 in Round 1.
Non-playing members thoroughly enjoyed the good competitive play.
GisborneThe six Gisborne Bowling Club championship singles events were successfully completed last weekend.
Conditions of play were 21 shots up or a two-hour time limit for all games.
Steve Goldsbury put in an excellent performance to win the senior men’s title. He was unbeaten over the two days.
The two-life system meant Goldsbury had to play both Jamey Ferris and Robin Jefferson twice over the two days. He won all four encounters and took out the championship by beating one-lifer Jefferson 21-18 in the final.
On this showing, Goldsbury should be one of the favourites for the centre men’s singles this weekend.
The senior women’s title went to Dayvinia Mills, but she had two close games on Saturday leading up to the final on Sunday morning.
In the first round, Mills just got home 21-19 against Karen Higgins and then beat Tanya Harrison 19-18 after an extra end when the scores were tied at 18-all when the time limit expired.
In the final on Sunday morning, Mills retained her two lives when she beat one-lifer Queenie Takurua 21-7.
On this showing, Mills must be one of the top prospects for the centre women’s singles this weekend.
Perhaps the most competitive championship was the event for men with playing experience of eight years or less.
Eventual winner Mike Donnelly is in only his second season in the sport but chose to compete in the eight-and-under event. He had to play the more experienced Don Green three times in the competition over the weekend.
Donnelly took the title when he came from behind to beat Green in their third game — a winner take all final late on Sunday afternoon.
Only three players entered the event for women with playing experience of eight years or less.
The title went to Barbara Gibson, who played well to be unbeaten. She had wins against both Diane Oates and Kym Brown and then Oates again, 21-15, in the final.
There was much interest in the event for men with playing experience of three years or less.
Geoff Pinn faced three opponents, who included his eight-year-old twin sons Kyle and Liam.
Geoff finally ran out the winner on Sunday morning when he beat Kyle 21-10. Both Kyle and Liam showed sufficient promise to be considered excellent prospects for the future.
Not to be outdone, Karen Pinn emulated her husband’s success when she won all her games and took out the title for women with playing experience of three years or less.
Her performance confirmed she has a bright future in the game. She beat Angela Gibson-Sam twice — 21-19 in the third round and again by the same score in the final.
Campion College student Gibson-Sam is another player for the future. In the final, she staged a commendable comeback.
All six winners now qualify for the centre champion of champions events, which will be played at the end of April.
KahutiaBoth greens at Kahutia Bowling Club were in use over the weekend to accommodate the junior men’s, junior women’s, open men’s and open women’s singles championships.
Three events were completed. The junior men’s final will be completed on January 4.
Results — Junior women: Paige Richter was undefeated in two rounds. Runner-up: Alicia Ruru.
Senior women had three entries going to five rounds. Round 1: Marie Wright def Carol Jukes 21-12; Glenys Whiteman, bye. Round 2: Whiteman def Jukes 22-14; Wright, bye. Round 3: Whiteman def Wright 21-18. Round 4: Wright def Whiteman 21-9. Round 5: Whiteman def Wright 23-8.
Senior men had 12 entries. Round 1: Steve Jenkins def Harry Green 21-17; Ray Smith def Ray Taylor 22-6; Murray Owen def Richard Mann 21-5; Murray Murton def Jock Smith 21-20; George Vaotuua def Gary Tocker 21-12; Alastair Macpherson def Andy Tamanui 21-4. Round 2: Jenkins def R Smith 23-20; Murton def Owen 21-18; Macpherson def Vaotuua 23-17; Green def Taylor 21-11; J. Smith def Mann 21-8; Tamanui def Tocker 22-11. Round 3: Macpherson def Murton 21-10; Green def Owen 21-14; J Smith def R Smith 21-14; Vaotuua def Tamanui 21-16. Round 4: Macpherson def Jenkins 21-7; J Smith def Green 21-2; Murton def Vaotuua 21-6. Round 5: Macpherson def Smith 23-13; Jenkins def Murton 21-19. Final: Alastair Macpherson def Steve Jenkins 21-9.
Junior men had 10 entries. Round 1: Willy Murray def Andrew Ball 23-11; Norm Young def Chris Hewson 22-6; Bruce Elliott def Marty Ryan 21-11; Ray Young def Joe Wimutu 21-11; Allan Parker def Kingi Stevens 21-6. Round 2: Murray def N Young 22-17; R Young def Elliott 21-16; Hewson def Ryan 21-12; Ball def Parker 22-6; Wimutu def Stevens 21-6. Round 3: R Young def Murray 21-20 (over 27 ends); Parker def N Young 21-12; Wimutu def Elliott 21-19; Ball def Hewson 21-9. Round 4: Wimutu def Murray 21-14; Ball def Parker 21-19. Round 5: Wimutu def R Young 21-16; Ball, bye. Round 6: Ball def R Young 21-9; Wimutu, bye. The final, between Joe Wimutu and Andrew Ball, has yet to be decided.