Paris & Olivia win 2022 Australian Open Pairs

The Australian Open is a 14-day festival of bowls, the 2022 field having over 3,000 entries and 5,700 competitors – ranging from club-level bowlers to world champions, all competing in an open draw.

The New Lynn Bowling Club duo of Paris Baker and Olivia Bloomfield have been a regular and formidable pairing at club, local and national competitions. When they decided they wanted to play in the 2022 Australian Open, they set about fundraising to enable them to attend and compete.

Once on the Gold Coast, Paris and Olivia competed in the Singles, Pairs and Fours. While they both qualified for post-section play in their Singles, their effort in the Pairs discipline brought their names to the fore.

In sectional play, they had winning scores of 16-15, 19-16 and 21-9 – giving them the section win and advancing them to the knock-out matches on Tuesday, 21 June. They moved through two rounds of knock-out, wins of 16-13 and 27-17, followed by a convincing 22-8 win in the quarter-finals.

We were able to grab glimpses of their semi-final during the live streaming of the other semi-final game, and although our ladies were well behind during the first half – they kicked it up a notch and held the momentum to take the match 14-10 and through to the Final.

Finals day arrived. It was a bit of a nervy start for the New Zealand duo, as they familiarised themselves with the running of the green – a quick 16.5 seconds and with a large crowd watching on.

Their opponents, Wendy Wilson and Tris Doolan, were first to score. After two ends, they led 0-4. Things start to take shape for Paris and Olivia, as they score one in the third end. Their focus is growing and they look to be settling into their rhythm and finding their shot range.

It’s halfway through the match, the tide has turned in favour of Paris and Olivia – it’s game on! Paris was relentless in her upfront positional play with her opponent unable to make any significant counter shots and unable to slow the momentum. Olivia also plays some lovely bowls to deny their opponents any points. Paris and Olivia win four consecutive ends. They have controlled the match from end 8 and continued to apply pressure gaining 13 points in ends 8 to 11 to take the lead 16-8.

The New Lynn duo are tactical as they defend their ground to reduce their opponents’ opportunities to score. Wendy and Tris are looking to take some chances – they know they need to win multiples to claw back valuable points. They can only muster two points by end-14 the score is 19-10. The deficit is too big for the Aussie duo. In the next two ends, Paris and Olivia add seven more points to take the title 26-10.

It was clear from the onset, that Olivia and Paris were playing their own game and having fun – their personalities and skills shone. It was a memorable match for these two ladies, congratulations.

Images are courtesy of Bowls Australia

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Matariki Open Fours

Te Atatu Peninsula Bowling Club
24-25 June 2022

Mānawatia a Matariki - Celebrating Matariki
Te Atatu Bowling Club celebrated the first Matariki Public Holiday with the inaugural Open Fours tournament on Friday 24 & Saturday 25 June. To ensure we could offer this event to as many teams as possible, we joined with Hobsonville Bowling Club. Together we were able to host 128 players in 32 teams.

Our tournament sponsors were Fencemaster, Te Hononga Trust, Ryman Trust, Bowls NZ, Tiger Turf, Bunnings Westgate, Moana NZ, Blue Star plus anonymous cash sponsors. A special mention to Helen and Peter Blick who donated taonga (gifts) for all teams.

To our volunteers made up of community whānau, friends and whānau from both clubs, a big thank you.  Kia ora Haki and Sue Watene for organising the food for the two days which included the hakari (feast) at Te Atatu and Eric and Linda Smith for organising the food at Hobsonville.  

Players came from Auckland, Birkenhead, Bridge Park, Carlton Cornwall, Grey Lynn, Glen Eden, Henderson, Hobsonville, Howick, Onehunga, Otahuhu, Pakuranga, Pringle Park, Pt Chevalier, Remuera, Riverhead, Royal Oak, Takapuna and Te Atatu.  Interestingly, the first team to register and pay was David Ball, Greame Scott, Ian Dee from Auckland Bowls and Mark Cameron from Bowls NZ, but on the day, David was replaced by Garry Banks. Their team was suitably named Ngā Whetū, The Stars! 

At the end of day two the final, the plate and consolation winners were found. Congratulations to the event winner: Joe Whitelaw, Darral Gordon, David Eades & Mario Arnerich, they take the Matariki trophy, taonga and a cash prize.

Second place: Billy Fulton, Steve Hoeft, Phil Aitken, Garry Lawrence.  Third place was Liam Hill, Aggie Motu, Mike Bradshaw, and Davey Motu.  Fourth place was Doreen Jansen, Mel Sam, Lavinia Ruka and Barry Aspin - they all received cash prizes and taonga.  Plate winners and consolation winners at Te Atatu also received taonga and cash prizes.

Six prizes were awarded to the teams who played at Hobsonville on day two. The winners were from Onehunga, New Lynn, Pringle Park, Royal Oak, Te Atatu, Glen Eden, Grey Lynn and Pt Chevalier. 

To all the bowlers who made this first tournament a huge success, thank you.  We will learn from our highlights and challenges so we can improve for next year's Matariki event.

Contributed by Marion Hakaraia

Great Western Showdown

Glen Eden Bowling Club
26 June 2022

While the morning was a bit foggy it turned out to be nice, dry, and warm for Glen Eden’s annual ACT 1-3 Year players. 18 teams from Orewa, Mairangi Bay, Birkenhead/Takapuna, Blockhouse Bay, Mt Albert, Royal Oak, Rocky Nook, Mt Eden, Epsom, Maraetai, Hobsonville, Pukekohe, Pt Chevalier, Carlton Cornwall participated, with several forming composite teams.

We saw excellent bowls throughout the day. Some came dressed in theme, Cowboy or Cowgirl.  Some were wrapped up for the winter weather, which was a wise option as the sunny weather was replaced with cold drizzly weather in the afternoon. Luckily we were able to finish before it got dark.

A big thanks to our key sponsor: James, Kerry and the team from Barfoot & Thompson Glen Eden.  Kerry was on hand to present the prizes to the winners.  Other sponsors for the event were Yvonne and Peter Lipsham, Janet Pihigia and Sharon Stewart.

An event like this couldn't take place without the support and assistance of many volunteers, we send you all a very big thank you - your contributions make this event such a popular one.  It was also great to see so many supporters come to rally behind their players.

First (left): Royal Oak David Weir, Nicole Singer, Lee Singer with 4 wins, 26 ends &52 points
Second (right): Colleen, Herbert & Craig with 4 wins, 22 ends

Third (left): It came down to points differential - Mukesh, Paedro & Robert with 25 ends, 55 points for & 27 points against.  Consolation (right): Mairangi Bay - Rosemary, Flora, & Marion

Contributed by Darren Schroeder.  Photos of prize winners thanks to Melissa Stewart

Sunday 2-4-2s

Kohimarama Bowls
26 June 2022

Lucky winners and happy bowlers make for a great photo from the PAK'nSAVE 2-4-2s at Kohi Sunday 26 June.  New faces have been joining in each week for a great afternoon out and prizes that won’t disappoint! 

Don't miss out - register with Jill for our final date Sunday 3 July.

Contributed by Cynthia Morris

Matariki Hong Kong Pairs

Glen Eden Bowling Club
24 June 2022

Our Matariki Day tournament began with a prayer, welcoming visiting teams from Maraetai, Mt Albert, Rocky Nook, Grey Lynn, Balmoral and our members. 

It drizzled on & off throughout the day.  By the end of the third game, the rain was setting in, but it did not deter everyone from enjoying the day.   Well done to the winners from Mt Albert: Pat & Craig.  Thank you to Graham Lintonbon for kindly sponsoring the tournament.

Contributed by Darren Schroeder

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