Big day out for Toomey
Talented Wellington player Nicole Toomey completed a memorable day by reaching the quarterfinals of the women’s singles at the New Zealand bowls championships in Auckland yesterday.
Toomey was a member of the victorious Stokes Valley Bowls3Five side last year, although she is playing this event under the Victoria club banner.
Toomey’s biggest win of the day came in round two when she ousted 2008 world singles champion Val Smith 20-16, the 21⁄ 2- hour time limit being invoked as organisers pushed through four rounds on the day.
After toppling Smith, Toomey ended the hopes of another promising prospect in the country, Ashleigh Jeffcoat, 21-16, and then was a comfortable 21-8 victor over Queenstown’s Margaret O’Connor.
In the quarterfinals, Toomey will meet Karen Hema (Carlton Cornwall). The other last-eight match-ups see fellow Canterbury players Tayla Bruce (Burnside) and Mandy Boyd (Elmwood Park) square off in what should be a top-level clash, Linda Ralph (Carlton Cornwall) meet Rima Strickland (Grey Lynn), while Connie Mathieson (Takapuna) will play Patricia Murray (Kensington).
Smith was not the only big name to fall in the opening two rounds. Both the finalists from two years ago exited early.
Debbie White fell in the first round 21-20 to Lisa Parlane, a successful competitor in Auckland and North Harbour for a number of years, while Selina Smith was ousted 21-12 by Ralph in the second round.
Boyd was particularly impressive – only one of her four opponents made double-figures – with Wanganui’s Dianne Patterson thumped 21-5 in the fourth round.
Saturday’s weather resulted in all players being included in the post-section draw after some had completed only one game, while the men’s pairs was reduced to five rounds, with three wins required.
Perhaps the biggest casualties were the North Harbour duo of former international Kerry Chapman and Adam Haywood.
They drew the toughest section and were beaten by both Ian Fisher and Steve Arms (Howick) plus Jordan King and Chris Lowe (Mangere) on Saturday.
Post-section play today will whittle the field down to eight pairs.