Father and son take title
Aidan Zittersteijn has completed a memorable year by skipping his father John to the Taranaki men’s bowls Christmas pairs title.
Zittersteijn junior won a bronze medal representing the Cook Islands at the Commonwealth Games in April and last month was named Taranaki junior sportsman of the year.
There was a further breakthrough on Saturday at West End when Aidan skipped John to the Auto City-sponsored Christmas pairs title, beating clubmates Brendan Walton and Allan Batley 21-20 in a tense final.
It was the first Taranaki title for both Zittersteijns, though John won a Wellington gold star before immigrating north in
1990.
The Zittersteijns opened up an early
10-1 lead in the final, before Walton and Batley turned the tide with consistent draw bowls. They took the lead 13-11 and then developed a topsy-turvy battle. Aidan Zittersteijn, after starting the last end two in front, found himself three down on the skip changeover but he calmly drew a second shot that Batley could not dislodge.
Meanwhile, West End’s Sue Winter and Susan Cottam claimed their second Clegg’s Funeral Home-sponsored Taranaki women’s open pairs final at Ha¯ wera Park on Saturday.
After winning the title three seasons ago, the West Enders claimed the final
24-16 from another set of past winners, Pauline Kennedy and Kristin Stampa (Ha¯ wera Park).
Winter and Cottam started the final in dominant fashion, leading 15-3. But Kennedy and Stampa clawed the deficit back to
19-16 with two ends to go. However, both ends went West End’s way.
Both Winter and Cottam had enjoyed success last week as well, as members of the nine-strong West End team that was crowned inaugural Taranaki bowls3five champions. By winning the 10-side competition, West End now advance to the national knockout event.
The first round, against Aramoho, will be played in the new year.