On the last end, Preddey hit back, collecting three points for a 9-9 draw, but Rickard had done enough to be overall winner.
This was Rickard’s second centre title. She started playing bowls at a very young age, brought into the game by her father Andrew Rickard. Her younger brother Adam is another up-and-comer in the sport. In 2019, all three family members teamed up win the centre opening trios.
Arnold Hutchins, who celebrates his 80th birthday this month, showed the class that gained him three New Zealand indoor bowls titles.
Gisborne’s indoor bowls “master” notched up his 77th centre title, winning the men’s centre open singles 10-8 on a deciding end against Matthew Foster.
The final was a titanic battle. Both bowlers were on form and went bowl for bowl throughout the game.
After two ends of nine, the score was 3-3 and after End 6 , the score was locked at 6-6.
Hutchins then applied the pressure to record one point on ends 7 and 8 to lead 8-6 going into the last end.
On this end, Hutchins drew the shot with his last bowl, a magnificent bowl near the end of the mat.
In response, Foster got down and played a superb run shot, pushing the Hutchins shot bowl off the mat for the two points needed to draw level at 8-8 after the nine ends.
A deciding end had to be played. Again they went bowl for bowl, but when Foster was one down on the head, he played a weighted bowl on to the kitty with a little too much weight. He pushed the kitty off the mat, killing the end and giving Hutchins two penalty points and the win.
Hutchins defeated Jay Casey 13-8 in his semifinal, whilst Foster defeated Warren Madoc 11-1 in the other semifinal.
