Sublime singles bowls on Howick Bowling Club greens on Sunday brought Challenge Trophy 2013 to a close, and earned the Central region’s side the coveted cup. It was a well deserved first-time win for a team that included a majority of relatively inexperienced, yet highly talented bowlers in the men’s squad. Their teammates in the women’s side all have national or international credentials that came in handy to secure the win on the last rounds of the three-day event.
“On paper, our women are strong. But our men have done a fantastic job, especially today. I’ve never been in the winning team at this event, it’s exciting and I’m enjoying myself,” Clare McCaul (Silverstream) said.
She was joined in the Central side by fellow Wellingtonian and Black Jack Lisa White, New Zealand Open 2012 Women`s Singles Champion Kirsten Griffin (21) and National Secondary School 2011 Girls Singles winner Nicole Toomey as part of a powerhouse line-up that stormed the singles rinks to clinch the title. Their male counterparts were just as fiery in the singles, winning five of six matches in the final round. Talent Development Squad bowler Tim Toomey won his game to help push his region’s team well over the line, showing his class by beating former NZ representative Monte Pawa (Northern) in the second round, 21-14.
Central went into the final day in the lead on the back of an unbeaten performance by Black Jack Clare McCaul and teammates Angela Boyd and Kirsten Griffin in the triples on Saturday. McCaul’s triplet were the only team to end the day without a loss, combining with an equally impressive showing by Kaaren Guilford (skip), Black Jack Lisa White and Talent Development Squad member Nicole Toomey.
Guilford beat Mandy Boyd’s Northern women 15-14 in round one, lost to Jo Edwards (Mainland) 8-16 and returned in the third round to defeat Jan Shirley (Southern) 31-9. Meanwhile, McCaul toppled Val Smith (Southern) 20-12 in the morning, beat the Jan Khan trio (Mainland) 22-9 then ended the day with a 28-9 victory over Denise Samuel (Northern).
Final Results
Winner of Challenge Trophy 2013:
Central – 83
Mainland – 68
Northern – 59
Southern – 54
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