Gisborne lawn bowls: Shanks, Hoepo undefeated in pairs success

Kahutia Bowling Club open men’s pairs champions July Hoepo (left) and skip Leighton Shanks with the David Sara Memorial Cup.

Leighton Shanks and July Hoepo were undefeated on their way to Kahutia Bowling Club’s open men’s pairs title.

They beat last year’s pairs champions, Kyle and Liam Pinn, 16-15 in a thrilling final decided on the last end.

Shanks (skip) and Hoepo had two lives going into the potential final against 14-year-old twins Kyle (s) and Liam Pinn, who had lost a life when Shanks and Hoepo beat them earlier in the competition.

After 16 ends of the final, Shanks and Hoepo led 14–12.

On the 17th end, Kyle Pinn executed a run shot that carried the jack into the ditch, and the twins held three shots. Shanks responded with a precise draw, only for Kyle Pinn to drive again, removing the shot bowl to take a 15–14 lead.

Shanks and Hoepo held their nerve on the final end, securing the shots needed for victory and the club’s open men’s pairs title, with both lives intact.

They were calm under pressure, and precise and strategic in their play, while Kyle and Liam Pinn showed skill and determination in a memorable match.

Seven teams had entered the two-day tournament.

In one of the most exciting matches, Kelly Te Miha (s) and Jay Casey met Joe Wimutu (s) and Puna McRoberts.

After 12 ends, Wimutu and McRoberts led 12–6. Te Miha and Casey then picked up four shots, followed by three more to go ahead, 13–12.

Wimutu and McRoberts drew level at 13–13, but, over the last three ends, Te Miha and Casey secured one shot on each end to win the match 16–13.

In other first-round results, Shanks and Hoepo beat Allan Parker (s) and Graham Atkins 22–2, while the Pinn brothers beat their father, Geoff Pinn (s), and Willy Murray 20–8.

Shanks and Hoepo beat the Pinn brothers 27-4 in the second round, while Wimutu and McRoberts beat Ray Young and Salvie Rickard 23–7. Geoff Pinn and Murray beat Parker and Atkins 23–5, eliminating the latter pair.

In the third round, Shanks and Hoepo beat Te Miha and Casey 26–8, while Geoff Pinn and Murray eliminated Wimutu and McRoberts by inflicting their second loss, 20-11.

Kyle and Liam Pinn bounced back from their second-round loss to beat Young and Rickard 21–12, thereby eliminating them from the competition.

Shanks and Hoepo advanced to the potential final by beating Geoff Pinn and Murray, while Kyle and Liam Pinn endured some tense moments before beating Te Miha and Casey 14-11. In the last few ends, the Pinn brothers led 11-9, 11-10, 13-10, 13-11 and 14-11.

Shanks and Hoepo won the potential final, reversing the result of last year’s final.