Results of the Senior State Championships
Over the last few days, some of the top Over 60’s players have met to see who could be crowned the State Champions in both the Fours & Pairs disciplines. Some high quality bowls were played but there could only be one winner in each category. Let’s have a look at how things played out.
Men’s Fours
Wayne Manson and Bill Butler would be the skips who would battle it out for the title. Earlier in the Semi Final, Manson had defeated Graham Hay and Butler had only just got over the line against Greg Douce. The Final was a very closely fought affair with neither team being able to take the advantage early on. Once the half way point was reached, it would be Manson who would pick up consecutive ends to start to create a gap in the game. Butler and his team were unable to recover and it would be Manson who would be the winner. Manson’s teammates were Peter Zoon, Peter French & Trevor Docking.
Women’s Fours
In the Women’s event it would be Gail Thow taking on Maxine Monson. Both players have been in good form this season and were keen to win this title. Earlier in the Semi Finals, Thow defeated Carol Bannister who recovered well from a poor start only for Thow to win the decisive ends when it counted and Monson defeated Lorraine Ogden by 1 shot in a very close encounter. Monson jumped out to a strong start in the final, leading 4-0 only for Thow to get the next 9 shots and lead 9-4. That run of shots put Thow on the front foot and despite Monson picking up some ends towards the end of the game, the deficit was too much, Thow the winner. Thow’s team included Shiron Beavis, Janenne Thompson & Val Carey.
Men’s Pairs
The Final was played between Peter Barrett & Ralph Tienan. Barrett had overcome Grant Allford in the Semi Finals whilst Tienan had defeated Kerry Hill. After 9 ends, Barrett led 8-4 but over the next 4 ends, Tienan would win all 4 and move the score to 11-8. Barrett picked up a crucial 2 on the penultimate end, leaving one the difference but Tienan had last bowl. With only the skips bowls remaining, Barrett held 3 shots and the game but Tienan would draw 2nd with his first bowl. Barrett couldn’t quite add a second shot, so Tienan had the chance to win the game if he could remove Barrett’s bowl and leave his second shot in the head. Tienan did just that and the game was his! Leading for Tienan was Geoff Doyle.
Women’s Pairs
The Women’s final was played between Kim Saunders & Barbara Smith. Smith had only just defeated Ailsa Milburn in the Semi Final whilst Saunders won a little more comfortably over Judy Gurr. In the final Gurr worked her way to the front after 6 ends, leading 7-4. Over the next few ends, Saunders regained the lead, only to see Gurr tie the scores up and it was 10-10 after 11 ends. Over the remaining ends, no team could get a lead larger than 3 shots and with one end to go the margin was only 1 shot in Saunders favour, with Saunders having the last bowl. Smith and her partner tried to pick up the two shots or at least one to force and extra end but Saunders and partner Gaylene Elsworthy did not allow that to happen. Saunders winning and both players adding another title to their list of achievements.
A big thank you to Chris Dudman & Dee Harman for giving us live updates via Facebook.
By David Genford
