WALKER-DAVIS AND SIMPSON TAKE OUT MIXED PAIRS

by Rob McGuire on January 10, 2022

Playing consistently good bowls all week, Longford’s Josh Walker-Davis and Kings Meadows Rae Simpson were crowned Bowls Tasmania’s 2022 Open Mixed Pairs Champions today in a high standard and entertaining grand final at Burnie.   For Walker-Davis it was his first State Championship win after a number of near misses.  (Simpson and Walker-Davis are pictured with Bowls Tasmania CEO Rob McGuire and President Graham Hay.)

Walker-Davis and Simpson opened an early lead against Glenorchy Rodman’s Isaac Maughan and Michelle Moate and maintained that lead until the finish eventually winning by ten shots.   In high quality semi-finals in the morning, Walker-Davis and Simpson had to fight hard to beat Trevallyn’s Michael Sims and New Norfolk’s Lauren Banks by three shots and Maughan and Moate defeated Invermay’s husband and wife team, Gene and Candice Ayton in a tight finish by one shot.

In the J. Carroll Card Promotions Junior Girls Singles Championship, Trevallyn’s Chloe Collins remained undefeated to defeat Glenorchy Rodman’s Miley Sutton by eleven shots with Ulverstone’s Holly Bonde finishing in third place.

Sectional play for the Bowling Arm Singles Championships was held at Burnie with section winners being Ian Williams, Owen Preston, Michael Shingles, Aubrey Hendricks, Vaughan Eaves, Gaylene Elsworthy, Geoffrey Buchanan, Trevor Bryant, Kevan Gaffney and Tony Lynd.

Gala Week continues on Tuesday  with sectional play in the prestigious Men’s Triples Championship being played at South Burnie and the Women’s Triples Championship at Penguin.   Semi-finals and the grand final in the J. Carroll Card Promotions Boys Junior Pairs Championships will take place at Burnie together with post-sectional play in the Bowling Arm Singles Championship. Open Mixed Pairs and sectional play in the Girls Junior Singles and the Bowling Arm Singles at Burnie.