Bowls: Keeping title hard call for Kernaghan

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Even the advantage of familiar conditions may not be enough for Dunedin's Mike Kernaghan as he seeks to defend his singles crown at the national bowls championships.

Many have tried, but not since the great Phil Skoglund won three in a row 30 years ago has any player managed to successfully defend the coveted title.

And, unlike most of his rivals for the title he won at Onehunga last season, Kernaghan, from the Kaikorai club, will go into the singles, starting with section play on New Year's Day, without the advantage of having played the fours and pairs.

While Kernaghan must beat history to win a second title, Sid Giddy and his Mt Maunganui four face a different challenge.

Victories last year and this - both with Lance Tasker, Kevin Maxfield and Maurice Hickey - have given the Giddy combination the chance of a trio of titles.

The redoubtable Nick Unkovich skipped the victorious fours in 1984-85-86, but had a change of personnel after his 1984 triumph.

Unkovich went on to win a record 10 titles - the last in pairs in 1991 when he and Ross Haresnape won in Wellington.

Giddy will begin the defence of his title this morning at the Kaituna RSA greens.

Needing three or four wins from four games of 21 ends over two days to qualify for post-section play on Sunday, Giddy appears to have a comfortable draw, with his first three games against Dunedin club combinations.

But there are plenty of club and composite fours capable of testing Giddy and his men in post-section play.

Gary Lawson, who skipped winning fours four times between 1993 and 1997, is back with 1998 singles champion Kelvin Scott at two and Adam Newman off the front.

Haresnape, who also won the fours in 1995, will be in Dunedin and has the chance of adding another title as he will lead for Rowan Brassey in the pairs and fours.

Brassey, arguably New Zealand's best performer of the past decade, has not won a national title since earning his gold star (five championships) in 1995, and has yet to win in singles.

While Kernaghan and Giddy are defending, the pairs championship starting on Saturday will produce a new winner.

This year's champions, David Clark and Mike Galloway, have opted out.

Lawson, who may rate a chance of an international recall, will have Newman as his lead in what seems a strong combination.

In the second round of section play on Saturday, Lawson and Newman will play Danny O'Connor of Okahu Bay and Gary Andrews of Kaikorai.

O'Connor won the first of his eight national titles in 1975 - only Unkovich has won more.

The 87th national championships, with headquarters at the Taieri BC, have attracted 800 players who will play at 23 clubs.

The condensed 12-day programme will culminate with finals on January 7.