Bowls Hinuera have had successful month

Since last month’s report, Bowls Hinuera have had some great success on the greens at home and around Waikato.

The club through Bev Corbett and Debbie White were nominated for the Waikato Sports Awards and although not announced the winners, there was some stiff competition and the awards night was enjoyed by all.

Over the anniversary weekend the foursome of Stu Settle, Bruce Milne, John Settle and Kevin Smith were attempting to defend their Taranaki Open title and managed to just be beaten in the semifinals. But reports were that they were unlucky and were proud of their achievements again going deep into their title defence.

Over the same weekend three teams entered the annual Tokoroa two day classic – Ross McGrail, Danny Shelley, Jill Bergh, and Bevan Shelley, Debbie White, Jocelyn Holten, Brendon Brill and Steve, Matthew and Jonathan Shelley and George Tuhakaraina.

After the first day all teams were in with a chance and it came down to the final games and the Bevan Shelley foursome managed to take out the title with the Ross McGrail four coming in fourth.

Anniversary Monday saw three teams enter the competitive Hillcrest Open Triples involving 32 teams.

The team were Ross McGrail, Jocelyn Holten and Brendon Brill, Jonathan, Matthew and Jessica Shelley and Bev Corbett, Debbie White and Greta Asplin and the McGrail triple managed four wins, collecting third place.

Over the weekend, two Waikato Open events concluded with Kevin Smith in the semifinals of the singles and the fabulous foursome of Stu Settle, Bruce Milne, John Settle and Kevin Smith in the final round of the Open Fours.

Kevin Smith dominated both his semi and final and was successful in winning the title with some outstanding bowls.

A nail biting finals match followed in the fours against the experienced Putaruru team. An extra end had to be played with Hinuera holding shot and Putaruru missing six shots to take the Hinuera bowl off the head. This saw the title go to the Hinuera Four and only increased their standing as Waikato bowlers of success and high standard.

Elsewhere, Debbie White and a composite team with Kira Gibbons successfully defended their Thames Valley Under- 8 at Thames.

Locally it was the eagerly awaited Club Junior Pairs.

In the women’s, mother and daughter combination of Jessica and Rachael Shelley were up against Jocelyn Holten and Teresa Wookey- Crowhurst. Both games were well played and went to Jocelyn and Teresa to give them the title.

In the Junior Men’s, the three teams were Matthew and Jonathan Shelly, Chen Naude and Braydon Shelley and Brendon Brill and Warren Feek.

After the first day Chen and Braydon were eliminated and Brendon and Warren went into the second day with two lives, taking one off the Shelley pair.

The second day the Shelley pair were too good for Brendon and Warren, with both players playing to a high standard, not allowing their opponents into the game. It was their third singles title.

Thank you to all the supporters and also to the match official Maurice Wilson.

This coming week Hinuera hosts the first day of the Waikato Open Mixed triples.