The 1-5 A/C Champ Pairs were played over the weekend.
The weather, well there were a few showers but nothing of note but that bl___y wind got worse as the weekend went on.
Strong gusty winds prevailed and made bowling very difficult.
Having said that the standard of bowls was pretty amazing in those conditions.
We had eight teams enter:
Barry Baillie and Graeme Storey, Bill Lowe and Roger Potter, Christine Tordeich and Queenie De La Croix. Julie Chhour and Jodie Cottier, Gary Warren and Joe Tordeich,
Steve Bartley and Craig Hughes, Maureen Davenport and Helen Bartley Rhonda Dredge and Lance Govender.
18 ends and two and quarter hours did prove difficult for a few of the teams in those prevailing conditions.
Two and three winners qualified for post section and those teams were, Barry and Graeme, Julie and Jodie, Steve and Craig, Roger and Bill, Rhonda and Lance.
With five teams qualified a bye round quarter-final was played, with three teams having a bye.
The two favorites were drawn together in that quarter- final. Barry and Graeme ( last year’s winners) and Julie and Jodie.
They had already played each other in qualifying with Barry and Graeme coming out the winners 19.14 in a very close game which could have gone either way, Barry and Graeme picking up a four on the last end.
In the quarter-final – Julie and Jodie played excellent bowls with Julie leading with so many close bowls and Jodie coming in to add to the count or playing some lovely weighted shots when they were down.
They led 10-2 early, Barry made a temporary comeback but then they gave away a six on the tenth end and there was no way back going down 13-22. A very deserved win to Julie and Jodie.
In the first semi-final – Steve and Craig played Rhonda and Lance.
Rhonda and Lance were coming off a good win in the third game of qualifying against Barry and Graeme where they both played some excellent bowls.
However this was another day and with Craig leading very consistently and Steve coming in with critical bowls Rhonda and Lance struggled with their form going down 7-27.
In the second semi-final. Julie and Jodie played Roger and Bill. It was even early on, 4 all after four ends, 8 all after eight ends, 10 all after eleven ends. On ends twelve and thirteen, Roger an Bill grabbed a 2 and then a 5.
They now lead 18-10, Julie and Jodie grabbed a two on the next end but Roger and Bill did the same on the next end, 20-12 after fifteen ends.
Julie and Jodie needed to score and they did with a 4 on the sixteenth end, 16-20 down two ends to go.
Roger and Bill picked up a 1 on the penultimate end, they lead by five with one end to go.
Julie and Jodie tried hard to get five but were unable to do so, just picking up a 1, 21-17 to Roger and Bill.
The final, Roger Potter and Bill Lowe against Steve Bartley and Craig Hughes.
The wind had got more stronger and made it really challenging for the finalists.
The NZ flag partially ripped in the wind and the seat between the two greens was blown over.
This was a close game, 5 all after six ends, 9-8 to Steve and Craig after eleven ends. All players putting in good bowls.
Then Steve and Craig won the next five ends picking up a 1 on each. They now lead 14-8 with two ends to go.
Roger and Bill picked up a 3 on the seventeenth end, they trail 11-14, still have a chance but Steve and Craig took a 1 on the last and got the win 15-11.
Well done to Steve and Craig, well deserved. For Steve his first championship win, he bowled very well and I’m sure he would have gained a lot of confidence from it.
Craig is a year three bowler, new to our club playing in his first Mairangi Bay Club Championship and he was very happy with the result.
Unfortunately Maureen Davenport incurred an injury whilst stepping back into the ditch and had to default their last game on the Saturday where they needed a second win to qualify.
She did pop in for a brief visit on the Sunday but was not totally comfortable.
A big Thank you to those who helped setting up and putting away of the gear and the scrim, especially Barry Baillie who was there bright and early on both days.
It was great seeing all the 1-5”s pitching in and helping with the setup, marking, scrims and in the kitchen.
Thank you to Gerd for her kitchen work and to both Gerd and Alan for running the event, and also to the supporters who turned up to watch..
This coming weekend is the 1-5 men’s and women’s singles.
Report by Alan Daniels.
