LADIES INTER ZONE ROUND ROBIN PAIRS
GOLD WINS GOLD On Friday 21st February, ladies from the Southern Zone, South Western Zone, Northern Zone and Eastern Zone converged on the Albany Bowling Club in readiness for the IZRR Pairs competition which was held over the weekend, 22nd – 23rd February.
The 1st round of competition saw the host, Southern Zone take on Eastern Zone, and last year’s winners, Northern Zone put their talents against the South Western team. Southern Zone jumped out of the blocks to take an early lead on all rinks, but they were soon overrun by the strong Eastern team, who ran out winners on aggregate 128 – 87, and winning 5 ½ rinks. The fixture was much closer between South Western and Northern, with games to-ing and fro-ing until South Western was able to draw slightly ahead with an aggregate of 109 – 104 and 4 rink wins.
The wind came up strongly in the 2nd round on Saturday afternoon which made conditions challenging for the players. Southern once again took the early lead against South Western, but in a close fought struggle, South Western eventually came out in front with 107 – 94 aggregate, although rink wins were 3 each. The fixture between Eastern and Northern also proved to be a close contest, with Northern adapting to the windy conditions to run out winners 114 – 103, and 4 rink wins.
Saturday night had the South Western Zone sitting in a handy position, being the only Zone to record 2 wins. Sunday morning arrived with beautiful sunny and calm conditions perfect for bowling. The players once again went into competition mode, with the result still up to be challenged by Northern and Eastern Zones.
Northern and Southern Zones contested a very close encounter for much of the round, before Northern pulled ahead to win 112 – 83, but with 3 rink wins each. In the other match of the round, the Eastern Zone, with the dogged determination to achieve a first for the Zone, jumped ahead quickly in their fixture against South Western, and were never headed, winning 5 rinks, with an aggregate of 125 – 91.
Southern Zone Vice President, Norma Norrish congratulated all players on such a good weekend of great bowls and good sportsmanship, and was very happy to announce Eastern Zone the victors, for the first time since the IZRR Pairs competition commenced in 1990/91. BowlsWA Country Committee representative, Linda Deegan-Humphries presented the shield and the prestigious gold WA badges to the jubilant Eastern Zone team, who could barely contain their excitement. A truly deserved win for a weekend of wonderful bowling by the team who were represented by Eileen O’Connell & Joanne Lancaster, Chris Ace-Watson & Denise Kelly, Irene Leahy & Lorrie Pettit, Bev Drakeford & Toni Madigan, Vicki Ellis & Sian Smith, Marlene Garn & Leanne Gobbart, with Team Manager – Jenni Bunce and Reserve – Joan Smith.
A big thank you must go to the Albany Bowling Club who hosted this event. Every club member present worked tirelessly all weekend to make sure the visitors were looked after in the best possible way – a truly wonderful job.
Final results: Eastern Zone 4 points 12 ½ rinks
Northern Zone 4 points 9 rinks
South Western Zone 4 points 8 rinks
Southern Zone 0 points 6 ½ rinks
IZRR Aggregate Results Sheet
IZRR Rink Scoresheet
Bev Broom (Southern Zone secretary)
