Gold & 2 Bronze Aus Championships
Our Tasmanian State Champions are currently contesting the Australian Championships in Merimbula NSW. The winner of each men’s and women’s State Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours disciplines for 2019 have earnt the right to progress through to the National Championships. Tasmania is represented in every discipline except the Men’s Triples who declined the opportunity.
Club Sapphire, Merimbula has proved a happy hunting ground for Tasmanian’s over the past couple of years and this year is no exception. The Tasmanian Women’s Triples combination of Jenny Suttie (Rosny Park), Kim Saunders and Candice Hodgetts (both of Invermay) set the trend on day one, when they claimed the bronze medal over the powerhouse NSW combination of Natasha Scott, Genevieve Delves and Kate Matthews 17-8.
Day 2 (Tuesday) bought about the Men’s and Women’s Pairs event. Jenny Suttie and Lyn Triffitt (New Norfolk) put up a good fight but did not progress through to the knockout rounds. While our men’s combination of Tristan Bakes (Devonport) and Gene Ayton (Invermay) continued their fine form to take out the bronze medal 13-10.
Day 3 (Wednesday) saw the fours disciplines take to the green with both Tasmanian outfits making it through to the medal playoffs. The women’s combination of Sophie Fletcher (Westbury), Madge Stochnetter (North Launceston), Judy Gurr (Kings Meadows) and Maxine Monson (Bridport) finished second in their section to play off in the bronze medal match. However, after a game of tug of war it was the Western Australian team that ran away the victors 13-11.
Our men’s fours combination topped their section to make it through to the gold medal match against Northern Territory. Our Tassie men got out of the blocks early and took control of the game from the first end. A stiff result on end 11 with a rebounding jack costing the Tigers 4 shots did not dampen their spirits. Leading by 3 shots with 4 ends to go, they didn’t look back. The combination of Josh Appleyard (South Burnie), Brad Johns (Franklin), Robert McMullen (Kings Meadows) and Lee Schraner (in his last outing for Tasmania) won consecutive ends to take out the gold medal 14-7.
Congratulations to all of our Tasmanians on a great performance.
Attention moves to the Men’s & Women’s Singles today, represented by Josh Appleyard and Lyn Triffitt and Mixed Pairs tomorrow represented by Jenny Suttie and Lyn Triffitt.
