The National Champion of Champion Women’s Triples were played over the weekend at Pukekohe. Mairangi Bay was represented by Jan Gledhill as skip, Colleen Rice, and Theresa Rogers, with Sheryl Wellington serving as manager and coach.
It proved to be a challenging and, at times, frustrating weekend for the Mairangi Bay team. Although the side were unable to qualify, they competed with determination and remained competitive in several closely contested matches.
Day One
Round One: Mairangi Bay had a bye.
Round Two: Mairangi Bay opened their campaign against Okaihau, a small town in the Northland region just north of Kaikohe.
Mairangi Bay were well in the contest throughout the match but eventually went down 17–13. The game remained close until the sixteenth end, when Okaihau picked up two shots, followed by one more on the final end. Final score 17-13.
Round Three: The team then faced Raumati in another close encounter.
Mairangi Bay led for much of the match and remained in front until the seventeenth end, when Raumati scored two shots to level the score at 16–16. Raumati then secured three shots on the final end, taking the match 19–16.
Day Two
The team returned on day two aiming to finish strongly and play with pride.
Round Four: Mairangi Bay again had a bye in the opening round of the day.
Round Five: Mairangi Bay played Carlton Cornwall in a fluctuating match. After sixteen ends, Mairangi Bay trailed narrowly at 12–11. Carlton Cornwall then scored three shots on the seventeenth end and two more on the eighteenth to win 17–11.
Round Six: The final match was against Allenton Bowling Club from Ashburton.
Allenton required a third win to qualify and proved too strong on this occasion, taking the match 19–7.
While the Mairangi Bay ladies were unable to qualify, they represented the club with commitment, sportsmanship, and perseverance throughout the weekend. Several matches were tightly contested, and the team can be proud of the effort they put in against strong opposition.
Report by: Sheryl Wellington
Roving Reporter