Northland bowlers enjoy World Masters medal haul

Kamo Bowling Club's Madeline Yovich, left, and Carol Neeley returned from the World Masters Games with gold medals. Photo/John Stone

Northland's bowling community is in high spirits as their contingent has brought back seven medals from the World Masters Games in Auckland.

The medal haul included five golds, a silver and a bronze as the Northlanders showed poise and precision to beat the competition.

The women's fours grouping of Maree Attwood, Lauren Mills, Chris Budge and Margaret Gurney took golds in the 50-59 age group.

Attwood and Gurney added to their haul with gold in the 50-59 women's pairs.

Carol Neeley and Diane Strawbridge were top of the lot in the women's 60-69 category, charging to the gold.

Meanwhile two Northland pairings went toe-to-toe in the 60-69 mixed pairs competition.

Wayne Wrack and Madeline Yovich proved too good for Northland rivals Strawbridge and Bill Harris and went on to comfortably take gold in the grade.

Yovich, also a Kamo Bowling Club representative, said the facilities at Carlton Cornwall were world class.

"It was stunning. There were bushes all around the greens and they were immaculate," she said.

"The clubhouse was brilliant. Winning was a great bonus.

"If anyone deserves mention though it's Wayne Wrack. He was the top bowler at the competition. He brought home three gold medals.

"He's got to be man of the tournament, he was just brilliant."

Wrack grabbed gold in the men's fours and men's pairs. He partnered with Nick Grgicevichin the pairs. Wrack and Grgicevich joined Gary Lawrence and Len Bilcich to win the fours.

Strawbridge and Harris didn't go home empty-handed, taking out the bronze medal.

In the women's pairs 70-79 competition it was another all Northland affair, this time in the final.

Sue Epsom and Diane Robinson took on Maureen Parke and Ann Muir to see who would be the ultimate victor.

Epsom and Robinson quickly gained the ascendancy and eventually they romped home to a 14-4 victory.

*CORRECTION: In Friday's edition of the Northern Advocate, the bowls photo on A27 was incorrectly identified as Madeline Yovich. The person in the photo was Kensington Bowling Club's Margaret Gurney.