Slew of new champs crowned
Cooper’s Beach
Several domestic championship titles and various open tournaments have been completed at the Cooper’s Beach Bowling Club over the past two months.
Three were won on Friday, March 9, including the men’s J8 singles title won by Alan Bright who beat Ken Smith and retaining both lives in the process. Others in the field were Stu Pedersen, Pom Kaire, Allen Larken, Dennis Lattimer and Clive Scahill.
The women’s singles title was won by Kyra Rapana by 21-16 over Shirley Marr (other contenders were Margaret Wildbore, Pam Naylor and Sue Smith), where it was also noted that the three players on the last day were all ‘juniors’ with less than eight years’ experience; while the club women’s triples title went to Wildbore, Glenis Love and Gaye Parker who emerged victorious against Mary Wright, Liz Walters and Smith. Also competing were Naylor, Ngaire Watts with Rapana, and Janice Allan, Trish Breckon and Barbara Scahill.
Another two titles were decided the following week, Friday, March 16, being the women’s J8 singles and men’s triples. The women’s J8 singles — begun on February 18 — came down to a potential final between Barbara Scahill on two lives and Carol Sell on one. Scahill went on to stave off a huge fightback from Sell to take out the event. Others in the field were Shirley Marr, Lyn Larkan, Sue Smith and Liz Walters.
The winners of the men’s triples — which began on January 21 — were Ross Hulme, Ken Smith and Alan Bright. That trio went in with two lives but lost one before emerging triumphant over Dennis Breckon, Bryon Corfield and Trevor Smith in a tense encounter. Other teams entered were Denis Hailey, Logan Taylor and Clive Scahill; Jack Hughes, Peter Wilson and Trevor Wilcox; John Rapana, Stu Pedersen and Allen Larkan; Jim Naylor, Dennis Lattimer and Steve Barber; and Nigel Leslie, Doug Robb and Barry Townsley.
Most recently, Sunday, April 8, saw the first-year championship singles contested by a field of two, Richard Rowbotham and Jeffrey Bell. The latter proved too strong to claim the title 21-12. Both were commended for the great bowls they played as genuine first-year bowlers.
All the above winners were wished well when they compete in their respective Bowls Far North Centre’s champion of champions events later in the season.
Elsewhere, a domestic tournament rained out earlier in the year and where there were only 10 teams entered was rescheduled to Good Friday, where it ended up attracting 20 entries. The format for the Leads and Twos Choice Pairs event sees a graded lead or two ask a graded three or skip to play with them.
Results were, Carol Sell and Gaye Parker 4 wins, 32 ends, 71 points, 1, Margaret Wildbore, Steve Barber 31⁄2, 26, 52, 2; and, Peter Wilson, Ken Smith 31⁄2, 24, 39, 3; while good sports were Pam Roughton and Garry Sparnon. ■ COMING UP: Reports from the major Doubtless Bay Mixed Fours event run from March 20-22, along with details of an event contested between members and those representing the visiting Taranaki Motorhome Association earlier this month, are both forthcoming.