‘Immense quality’ on show
It is a pity that the TAB has stopped taking bets on the New Zealand bowls championships as there would be some serious money to be made in the women’s events – if you knew what was going on.
The event starts in Taranaki today, with the women playing pairs and the men playing singles, and even though the quantity is down in the women’s section, the quality is immense.
There are no fewer than 15 past or present New Zealand reps taking part and due to that high standard, there would have been some very attractive odds on offer for some of the leading lights had the championships still been in vogue with the TAB.
And after the women’s solid but unspectacular efforts at World Bowls – one silver and two bronzes – the elite players should not be lacking in desire.
Heading the list is Jo Edwards (United, Nelson) and Val Smith (Merrylands, Sydney), two-time champions and 2008 World winners. They open their campaign at Waitara against the pair who upset them in the final three years ago – Ann Muir (Kensington) and Carolyn Crawford (St Clair).
Throughout the field are a number of highly competitive duos, the vast majority of whom will also be serious contenders for the singles crown as well, when that event starts on Saturday.
Of the other three world bowls team members, all rate a good chance. Kirsten Edwards (United) will lead for her mother, Leigh Griffin (Victoria), the singles winner of two seasons ago.
Burnside’s Angela Boyd leads for clubmate Tayla Bruce and Katelyn Inch (Oxford WMC) leads for Debbie White (Hinuera). White, the daughter of former international Jenny Simpson, has been in a rich vein of form so far this season.
Boyd has won the last two pairs titles with her sister, Mandy, but the latter is unavailable this season. The other big name missing from the field is fellow Cantabrian Sandra Keith.
Other talented pairs include those skipped by Gayle Melrose (Papakura),
Lisa White (Naenae), Dale Rayner (Johnsonville), Reen Stratford (Aramoho), Sharon Sims (Northern), Sarah Scott (North East Valley) and Judy Howat (Lyall Bay). Howat, now 81, remains an excellent competitor and claimed her 35th Wellington title earlier in the season when she skipped her four to victory.
At the other end of the age scale is Ashleigh Jeffcoat (Frankton Junction). Jeffcoat, who will lead for Rayner in the pairs and the fours, is just 17 and was the gold medallist in the girl’s singles at last year’s Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa.
Pairs require four wins from six games over the next two days to qualify. The section play in the singles and fours then follow, before post section in all three disciplines takes place.
Last year’s singles winner, Kelsey Cottrell (St Johns Park, Sydney) will not defend her title, while in Mandy Boyd’s absence, last year’s fours winners have separated in part. Griffin and Angela Boyd remain together, while Kirsten Griffin will play second in what is best described as a dream team. Jo Edwards will skip it, with Val Smith at three and Bruce at lead.