McIlroy wins Asia Pacific singles title

HANDS FULL: Shannon McIlroy with his gold medal and trophy for winning the men’s singles title at the Asia Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast, Australia. Bowls New Zealand picture

BOWLS

FORMER Gisborne bowler Shannon McIlroy has completed a perfect campaign at the Asia Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast, Australia.

McIlroy, 32, has won the men’s singles title, six days after winning the men’s pairs with Gary Lawson, to secure the Blackjacks’ fourth gold from eight events.

“Not often you go through any event undefeated, let alone an international event,” he said.

“It just goes to show me the work you put in, not just off the green but on the green as well, it can go a long way to having success.”

McIlroy’s 20th and final successive win was the hardest to come by.

The world champion had to come from 10-0 down to beat Canada’s Ryan Bester 21-20 in a thrilling men’s singles final.

“Experience tells me you just need to extend games and then see what happens,” McIlroy said.

“Credit to Ryan, the first seven to eight ends he was unbelievable so you’ve just got to tip your hat and say ‘too good’ sometimes.

“I was pretty happy with that second-half performance.”

With two golds and two silvers, the Blackjacks also secured the overall men’s title, ahead of Australia.

McIlroy believes they have sent a message to their rivals, less than a year out from the world championships, which will also be played on the Gold Coast.

“Us making finals and winning a lot of them goes a long way to just planting a seed of doubt for our opposition players that we come up against at world championships,” he said.

“If you can walk on the green and you’ve half beaten them mentally then that’s half the job done.”

Ali Forsyth (skip), Gary Lawson, Jamie Hill and Mike Kernaghan earlier had to settle for silver in the men’s fours, losing 21-17 to Australia in the final.

It was the second silver for Kernaghan, Hill and Forsyth after they were also beaten by Australia in the finals of the men’s triples.

Jo Edwards and Kirsten Edwards were also presented with their bronze medals in the women’s pairs, which meant New Zealand’s tally finished at seven — four gold medals, two silver and a bronze.

• McIlroy also beat Bester in the men’s singles final of the world bowls championships in Christchurch in December 2016.

The son of Bob (Boon) McIlroy and Priscilla Teaturangi Nepia, Shannon McIlroy learned his bowls alongside family members, from the age of five.

At the Ruatoria Bowling Club, he came under the guidance of old hands such as Jimmy Armitt and Willie Taare. His first competitive game was at the age of seven, with the Kaiti club.

After a few years there, McIlroy joined Te Karaka Bowling Club, where New Zealand representative and multiple national title winner David File was a mentor.

Gisborne Bowling Club member and former New Zealand pairs champion Robin Jefferson also worked with him as a practice partner during his formative years as a bowler.