Former England rep enjoying Open fours
Former England under-25 Callum Height is loving his time not only in New Zealand but in the Taranaki men’s Open fours.
Height had always had a desire to visit New Zealand and has enjoyed it so much that he is now giving serious consideration to immigrating permanently.
In addition to representing England at under-25 level twice, Height has also played extensively in the Middleton Cup, for the Northamptonshire county.
Height is leading for rising New Zealand star Aiden Takarua in this week’s Open fours and the side has made an excellent start with four wins.
After two big wins on Monday, the Pt Chevalier side, which also includes two other talented players, Alex Reed and Colin Williams, had to work much harder for both victories at Paritutu yesterday.
In the morning, the side came from 15-6 down after 12 ends to beat Bruce Harris (Johnston Park, Feilding) 24-18. The Harris team, which includes the 1989 runner-up Wayne Sellars, finished the day on two wins.
In the afternoon, Takarua defeated a New Lynn side skipped by Adam Wishnoski 26-18. The Wishnoski quartet, which includes three members of the champion 2018 team, had been unbeaten until that point.
‘‘It’s great down here,’’ Height said. ‘‘I really like the length of the games and the tournament.’’ The 29-year-old is the oldest in the youthful Pt Chevalier side, but has settled into his work comfortably at lead.
He showed that he has adapted to the quick New Zealand greens with consistently good draw bowls.
West End’s Dean Elgar posted two more wins yesterday to sit comfortably on four wins. Elgar is in fact playing third, with John Garrud, the open singles winner from Saturday, skipping the team.
In the morning, Elgar beat Kevin Kenny (Waitara) 30-10 and then beat Gary Russek (Omokoroa) 30-14. Both Kenny and Russek finished with two wins.
Other leading lights on four wins are Raymond Martin (Victoria), Grant Pease (Fitzroy) – who won both games on an extra end – Barry Wakely (Omarunui), Anton Ferrari (Naenae), Darren Goodin (Paritutu), Paul Hassall (Tawa), Peter Doreen (Far North RSA), Bruce Phillips (Tower), David Nightingale (Glendowie), Jeremy Brosnan (Glen Eden), Tony Stoker (Naenae), Warren Bellringer (New Plymouth), Ray Park (Wanganui), Garry Murfitt (West End).
Ferrari scored an impressive 24-21 win over Brian Little (Palmerston North) in the afternoon, while at the same time Hassall – no relation of those of the same name in Taranaki – beat Peter Belliss
26-15. Both Little and Belliss have three wins.
Craig De Faria (West End) was beaten
25-21 by David Hood (Whangarei) in the morning, but won in the afternoon. Both teams have three wins.
Section six was transferred early in the afternoon from a water-logged StratfordAvon to Paritutu C. Two round three games remain incomplete and will be completed this morning.