Bowls: Heads roll at champs

The post-section stage of women's singles and men's pairs claimed plenty of victims at the national bowls championships in Auckland yesterday.

The women's singles field is down to the last 16 from 105 qualifiers, while the men's pairs is down to the last 32 after 259 combinations started the fourth day of play.

Leading the charge for the singles crown are current internationals Wendy Jensen and 2002 champion Sharon Sims, as well as Marina Khan and the recently retired Marlene Castle. However, Sims and Castle are set for a mouthwatering quarterfinal clash, and Jensen and Khan in the semifinals, should all prevail in their early matches.

Dark horses among the field include the well-performed Cathy Fleming of Taranaki, Auckland's Maria Broadbent and Sue Wilson of Southland.

Earlier, defending champion Shona Klimeck of Hokonui was ousted by Jensen. Canterbury's Jan Khan was a shock first-round exit, as were fellow national squad members Michelle Preston and Mina Paul. New Zealand indoor singles champion Lisa Dickson and national club singles champion Doreen Schumacher, both fell at the hands of Jean Huxtable of the Far North. At the close of play tomorrow, the two women's finalists will be known.

The four semifinal pairs in the men's field will also be found tomorrow.

Favourites Rowan Brassey and Jamie Hill are still on track to take the title after many other leading combinations exited the competition. Standing in the way of the Avondale pair are a host of teams, including proven nationals performer Richard Girvan and the legendary Danny O'Connor.

Dunedin's Steve Beel and Geoff Wilson and Auckland's master skip Ivan Marsic and Neil Fisher will also come into the reckoning in the latter stages of the pairs. The father and son Grgicevich pair and composite side Philip Skoglund and Kelvin Scott are all in the field.

Teenagers Allan Stewart and Ricky Cook have surprised many and are the only team representing the young breed of bowlers in the last 32.

Champions in 2003 Wally Marsic and Petar Sain were the biggest names to be tipped out of contention. They were joined on the sidelines by last year's runners-up, South Canterbury pair Dave Hanson and Barrie Andrews.

- NZPA